Violets and Saintpaulias
Saintpaulias, popular among gardeners, actually have nothing to do with the flowers of the Violet family. They were discovered by chance in the 90s of the XIX century by the military commandant of the Uzambar district of the German colony in East Africa. It was Baron Walter von Senpole. In his honor, the plant got its specific name - saintpaulia.
Seeds sent to Germany sprouted, and soon the plant was described by naturalist Hermann Wendland as saintpaulia violet-flowered (or violet-flowered). The resemblance of Saintpaulias to violets is indeed present, but only superficially. An African plant with flowers similar to violets began to spread in Europe. Without going into the details of the classification, amateur flower growers very quickly began to call it "violet".
More photos and names of violets of dark shades
The number of varieties with black color is rather small in relation to all varieties. Below are photos of black violets with flowers of the darkest shades.
Mac's Toreador Trophy (G. McDonald).
Apache Magic.
Apache Midnight.
Apache Shadows.
Dark Night of The Soul.
Deadly Sting.
Diet Cola.
Lyon`s Night owl.
Lyon's Plum Pudding.
Mac's Black Pearl.
Mac's Black Uhuru.
Purple Passion.
Taboo.
Vintage Wine.
Ward Brown.
AB-Noble Rose.
AB-Bohemia.
AV-Vladimir Vysotsky.
AV-Crimean Cherry.
AV-Ink Heart, sport.
AB-Ink Heart.
AB-Black Prince.
AE-Witchcraft Night.
AE-Black Cherry.
AN-Black Tulip.
BR - Legion.
EC-Arabian Night.
EK-Gulliver.
EC-Wild Orchid.
EK-Purple Tent.
EK-Black Pearl.
LE-Demo.
LE-Constantine.
LE-Mia.
Louis.
RS-Don Juan.
RS-Georgette.
RS-Player.
RS-Corsair.
RS-Luna Park.
RS-Moor.
RS-Milord.
RS-Samurai.
RS-Fabulous Night.
RS-Black Rose.
Dark night.
Black Swan.
Black Fakir.
Description of varieties
"LE-Lilac rain" is a variegated variety with large double flowers of a delicate lilac color and fancy dark purple stains. The diameter of the flowers can vary from 4.5 to 5.5 cm. The leaves are large, uniform emerald color with light beige wavy edges. The sockets are characterized by extraordinary compactness and accuracy. The variety is unpretentious to care.
"LE-Lilac Tenderness" is an unpretentious variety that forms large and lush lilac-white or white-pink star-shaped flowers. Fleshy juicy leaves have a slightly pointed top. The color of the leaves is uniform, emerald or dark green.
"Lilac beauty" - graceful saintpaulia with large fringed flowers of a pale lilac color and a thin rich purple edging. A characteristic feature is the 3 purple markings located in the center of the flower. The leaves have a regular rounded shape and slightly wavy edges. The variety is very decorative, with abundant and surprisingly long flowering.
"H-Lilac Smiley" is a beautifully flowering Saintpaulia with large, fringed amethyst flowers with a bright white edging. Rounded leaves are deep dark green on the outside and reddish on the inside. Peduncles are massively formed in the center of the compact rosette.
"RS-Lilac Miracle" is a very spectacular variety of Saintpaulias, which forms large double flowers of a pale purple color and a bleached edge. The diameter of the flowers can be up to 7 centimeters. The leaves are simple, rounded and uniformly green in color. The rosette diameter is about 25 centimeters. The variety is considered very unpretentious, easy to care for and reproduce.
"Lilac excitement" is a graceful uzambara violet with very large fringed flowers. The two-tone petals combine dark purple and pale purple shades that harmonize well with dark emerald foliage. The leaves are reddish on the inside.
"PT-Lilac Dal" is an original variety with large simple or semi-double flowers. The petals are light amethyst in color with deep purple shading on the wavy edges. The plant forms a neat rosette of variegated leaves with a dark emerald core and a light beige irregular edging.
"Lilac sand" is a variety of the uzambar violet, which has an original and spectacular color. A feature of the plant is its simple, pale pink large flowers, dotted with a scattering of small dark purple splashes and framed by edging of the same shade. The leaves have a classic oval shape and color ranging from pale green to a uniform dark emerald hue.
"Lilac Mist" is an uzambara violet that forms a beautiful and compact rosette of emerald succulent leaves with jagged edges. During the flowering period, forms multiple peduncles located in the center of the rosette. The color of the flowers ranges from pale amethyst to purple. The crimped petals have intricate wavy edges. The variety is considered demanding to care, if the rules are not followed, the plant stops blooming.
"Lilac Watercolor" is a very effective variety, notable for its large voluminous flowers of a pale amethyst color with white spots shifted to the edge or to the center of the petals. A beautiful blurred transition from white to light purple creates a bright contrast against the dark green velvet leaves.
"AB-Violet Elephant" is a relatively young variety that forms a large number of buds during the flowering period. Very large double flowers are collected in dense voluminous brushes. The color of the petals is a uniform and rich indigo color with a graceful white edging on the edges.
"Lilac Charm" is an unusually beautiful variety, appreciated by flower growers for its impressive decorative effect. The flowers of this uzambara violet can be either double or semi-double. The highlight of the variety is the amazing color of the petals - the smallest and numerous lilac-crimson splashes on a delicate pearl-pink background. It is noteworthy that closer to the edges of the petals, the spray thickens, turning into a beautiful dark lilac edging.
"KO-Lilac Paradise" is an amazingly beautiful variety of Saintpaulias, distinguished by a proportional compact rosette. During the flowering period, in the center of the rosette, a lush cap is formed from flowers of a delicate amethyst color. A light snow-white border is allowed on the petals. The leaves have regular rounded outlines, wavy edges and a slightly pointed tip.
Growing features
To ensure optimal conditions for the development of a violet, it is necessary to provide it with the correct lighting, protect it from drafts, do not forget about irrigation and the introduction of nutrients. Saintpaulia will be able to bloom for nine and a half months of the year, including in winter. In summer, flowering is likely to be interrupted, as excessively high temperatures interfere with it. Soil mixture for Whipped Cream is easy to buy at the store or you can make it yourself. Saintpaulia will love the combination of turf, coniferous soil, sand and leafy soil taken in equal parts. Before use, the mixture will have to be disinfected: either stand in the freezer for a whole day, or ignite in an oven heated to 200 degrees for an hour.
The soil for violets should be saturated with useful substances, loose and permeable to both air and moisture. You should not enrich it with rotted manure, as this activates the build-up of green mass, instead of promoting flowering. To choose the most successful pot, you need to measure the diameter of the outlet - the capacity should be 3 times more than the indicator. Drainage holes must be present to ensure drainage of liquid after irrigation.
Lighting should be in moderation, since the violet will suffer both in case of direct exposure to sunlight and when in a darkened space. In the cold season, the flower feels great on the windowsills of windows facing south, but in the summer it will have to be rearranged to windows facing north.To create diffuse lighting that Saintpaulia likes, you can place a cloth or white paper between the glass and the plant itself. The violet will need 10 to 12 hours of daylight hours, but during the flowering period it is a good idea to create additional lighting. It is recommended to move the flower pot 90 degrees twice a week. This action will make it possible to achieve uniformity in the development of the leaf outlet.
In the summer, the optimum temperature is between 24 and 26 degrees, and in winter "Whipped Cream" can be grown at 18 degrees Celsius. The air humidity should correspond to at least 50%, but it is categorically not recommended to arrange spraying to increase it, as this threatens the appearance of spots of an ugly brown color.
When planting a plant in a pot, you must first create a drainage layer, the thickness of which is 2 centimeters. Next, a small amount of earth is poured on top, and the seedlings themselves are located. On top of the soil mixture is laid out in a circle, and everything is gently slammed.
Well almost black violet Dark Night of The Soul
Speaking of almost black varieties, Dark Night of The Soul cannot be ignored.
A beautiful, even, symmetrical, semi-miniature rosette that self-molds. Leaves are variegated, rounded, rather large. A feature of the variety is spoon-shaped sheets, the edges are twisted slightly upward. The color of the leaves is variegated, medium green with white.
The flowers are wine-black in color, the terry onesies with a coral-red underside. In the bud, the semi-open flower is almost black, and as it unfolds, it acquires a red, rather beet-like, shade.
Important! This variety is the only one bred by MacDonald outside the Mac's series.
Reproduction of such Saintpaulias
To preserve the maternal color of the plant, the usual method of propagation by cuttings is not suitable in the case of chimera violets.
The following methods allow you to preserve the desired color:
- Reproduction using peduncles. At their base there is a dormant bud, from which, with careful cutting and rooting, a new shoot grows. It will eventually become a new violet.
- The upper part of the plant, together with the flowers and one row of leaves, is completely cut off and planted in the ground. To avoid excessive evaporation of moisture, before roots appear, it is covered with foil or glass containers to create greenhouse conditions.
- Rooting by stepchildren. For this, the uppermost shoot is cut off. After a while, lateral layers appear at the site of the break. These layers can be torn off and planted in the ground.
