Flame violet is a tropical perennial native to the tropics of South America in the African violet family. These plants have showy variegated leaves and bright red solitary flowers. They grow in a rosette with lateral creeping stolons. These plants need indirect sunlight, warmth and high humidity but do not tolerate water on their leaves. Use this plant in a container with fertile well-drained soils. They look great in a hanging pot, terrarium or in a greenhouse. These plants can be difficult to grow, especially in winter when the humidity is low and days are short. Be sure to cut back on watering in winter to prevent root rot. If the plant is looking poor after winter, it can easily be propagated by stem cuttings. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests include aphids and mealybugs. Fungal leafspots, stem blights, and root rots occasionally occur. Leaves scorch in full direct sun; dieback occurs if too much water or too little air circulation, leaf margins turn brown from low humidity and too dry conditions. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common African violet diseases and insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheEpiscia 'Pink Brocade'Procris repensStrobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Houseplant
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Crenulate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Elliptical variegated hairy leaves with serrate to crenulate margins. Apex acute or obtuse, base rounded or subcordate. They can be 2-6 inches long and 1-4 inches wide.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Trumpet-shaped flowers with a spurred base and up to 1.5 inches across. Ring of hairs in the throuat.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round capsule 1 mm in size
Stem detail
Vertical stolons grow from the rosette.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical Americas
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Houseplants; Small Space
Garden tags
#tropical herbaceous perennial #red flowers #houseplant #tender perennial #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #container plant #groundcover #humidity tolerant #greenhouse plant #terrarium #difficult to grow #hanging baskets #high maintenance