Welcome to the official web site of the African Violet Society of Canada, a group devoted to the growing and showing of one of the world’s most popular houseplants!
We are a community that centres on learning together and sharing of knowledge, and we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and learn and share with us.
Joining us gives you access to our Chatter newsletter with the latest about growing these wonderful plants from other members, as well as a connection into the community to obtain named hybrids to grow. If you’re looking for people to connect with in your geographical area, you can also join a local affiliate society.
This seemingly simple houseplant that can be found for sale in most grocery stores, home improvement stores, and greenhouses as resulted from hybridization from species of plants found in eastern Africa, mainly in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. Through generations of hybrdization, many colours and amazing patterns in flowers have resulted, as well as forms of variegation.
The African Violet belongs to a large family of plants called Gesneriads. Amongst this group are other well-known houseplants such as the lipstick plant (aeschynanthus) and goldfish plant (nematanthus). There are many other lesser known plants in this family that make for beautiful houseplants!