African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
Other Names - Usambara Violet, Zoja African Violet, Saint Pauli .
Origins - Kenya, Tanzania.
Type - Perennial (evergreen).
Hardiness (see References, below
Outdoors, year-round, at minimum 65F.
Indoors, year-round.
Bloom - Will bloom repeatedly, throughout the 
year.
Height - Approx. 2.5 - 6 in (6 - 15 cm).
Cultivation - Well drained, rich soils.
For good blooms, place your African Violets in a draught-free, warm spot, preferably close to East, or West facing windows.
Violets love Sun, but unfiltered, direct southern exposure, may cause leaf burning. In Winter months, 
it may be necessary to place your violets under artificial light for a little while, each day, to supplement poor sunlight.
When watering plant, or misting its foliage, -use tepid water, only.
Make sure that your African Violets have excellent drainage, -standing water, will prompt short lifespan of your plant.
Propagation - By leaf cuttings. Detach healthy looking leaf with stem attached. Immerse the stem in a jar of water, or plant it (at an angle) in sand, sand-vermiculite, sand-peat moss, or sand-perilite, mixture. Cover with a tent-like shaped clear plastic, till baby plants appear, and reach about 1/3 size of the parent leaf. Remove the tent, water, and pot.
Other - Saintpaulia name comes after Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, commissioner to Tanzania, who discovered the plant.
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References - Find more about Hardiness Zones
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: blogger, bulabean, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., Satrina0, The Astrid, TMR Davies, Wikipedia, W.D. Williams
