Exposure Shade
Matures in 75 days
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Zanzibar is a standard type African Violet with highly variable genetics. The attractive single flowers may be blue, pink, purple, red, or white. These classic houseplants can reach over 30cm (12”) in diameter, with a wide range of leaf types. They're perfect for growing in subdued lighting in the home or office. African violets are native to Tanzania, but have been cultivated for over a century.
Matures in 75 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)
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Latin
Latin
Saintpaulia ionantha.
Gesneriaceae family.
Difficulty
Difficulty
Moderately easy - African Violet seeds are very, very small. The biggest challenge is dealing with the nearly microscopic seeds.
Exposure
Exposure: Shade
Zone: Not hardy - for indoor growing only
Starting
Starting
Start these perennial houseplants at any time of year, as long as the ambient room temperature is steadily in the range of 20-27°C, (68-80°F). Sow the tiny seeds over the surface of dampened seed starting mix. Be sure the mix contains some balanced organic fertilizer, or use fertilized solution when dampening the mix prior to sowing. Otherwise, the seeds will germinate but not grow at all. Germination may start on the 14th day at room temperature, but we have waited for 29 days in some instances. Be patient and keep the soil moist.
Growing
Grow indoors only. Provide good window light, but not direct sunlight. Grow lights work well. Seedling growth speeds up after 2 1/2 months, so be ready to pot the plants on as needed. Flowering typically begins after 5-6 months. Use soil that is loose, freely draining, and rich in organic matter. Repot once a year with new soil. Keep the soil slightly moist at all times, and use room-temperature water. Avoid getting the foliage and flowers wet - some people prefer watering them from beneath, into a tray below the pot.
West Coast Seeds is a family-owned company that embraces an organic lifestyle. A group of imagination catalysts and passionate educators, dedicated to producing products and services that better the environment. As part of our mission to repair the earth, we aim to inspire and empower people to take responsibility for the state of the planet. For us, organic is about much more than saying no to chemicals, it is about saying yes to building a healthy soil for the future.
For over 35 years, we have upheld our strong reputation as a leading seed supplier, seeking out the highest quality untreated seeds for organic growing and putting them through rigorous independent testing. We built our company on the exchange of generational wisdom in a masterclass community of newbies and masters alike. Our world may have changed, but our commitment to our people, our customers, and our planet has not.
We’re a values-based business that has blossomed into a lifestyle ethos, with products that support seeders, feeders, keepers, and the tiniest of creepers. Our mission? To mobilize the next generation of gardeners with products that nourish soil and grow vigorous, sustainable gardens. We believe all plants should be grown without the use of chemicals, and that the seeds we supply are an important component of regenerative gardening.
We don’t just offer seeds, we offer experience, insight, and understanding. From timeless garden wisdom to new tech know-how, this is learning on the job: knowledge gleaned not from the pages of a book but from burying our fingers in the soil. We test, experiment, observe and adapt, never happier than when we get to share what we’ve learned with others.
Gardens don’t just grow seeds. They grow minds and imaginations, people and communities. Our vision encompasses both the micro and the macro. We eat locally, protect pollinators, teach people to grow from seed, and support regional biodiversity. We think big but act small and deliver unexpected impact — always with community and purpose.
At West Coast Seeds we believe in the power of small and that little can be large. Like the tiniest seed germinates to evoke incremental change with massive potential, so to can our community of gardeners and growers together. Gardeners are the earth’s stewards, planting seeds of creative declaration. The soil provides the canvas, we provide the seeds.
Start these perennial houseplants at any time of year, as long as the ambient room temperature is steadily in the range of 20-27°C, (68-80°F). Sow the tiny seeds over the surface of dampened seed starting mix. Be sure the mix contains some balanced organic fertilizer, or use fertilized solution when dampening the mix prior to sowing. Otherwise, the seeds will germinate but not grow at all. Germination may start on the 14th day at room temperature, but we have waited for 29 days in some instances. Be patient and keep the soil moist.
Grow indoors only. Provide good window light, but not direct sunlight. Grow lights work well. Seedling growth speeds up after 2 1/2 months, so be ready to pot the plants on as needed. Flowering typically begins after 5-6 months. Use soil that is loose, freely draining, and rich in organic matter. Repot once a year with new soil. Keep the soil slightly moist at all times, and use room-temperature water. Avoid getting the foliage and flowers wet - some people prefer watering them from beneath, into a tray below the pot.
