Exacum affine

Plant Family

Gentianaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Exacum affine

Photo by: GERALD L. KLINGAMAN

Plant Common Name

German Violet, Persian Violet

General Description

Usually grown as an annual, Persian violet is a short-lived tender perennial native to streambanks on Yemenese island of Socotra at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. The squared stems are branched and erect with pointed, smooth dark green leaves. The sweetly scented five-petalled flowers are saucer-shaped, violet to blue and sometimes white, with a yellow center.

Persian violet needs a rich soil with good drainage in full sun and performs remarkably better with high humidity. Suitable outdoors in only the warm tropics, this plant is often grown as a tidy houseplant or summer annual container specimen. Water freely and fertilize regularly in the growing season but in winter water sparingly. Smaller growing lavender-blue flowering selections include 'Blue Gem and 'Blue Midget' while 'White Midget' is white flowering.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  7 - 1

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  11 - 12

• Sunset Zone

  H1, 23, 24

• Plant Type

  Tender Perennial

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm

• Width

  10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm

• Bloom Time

  Indeterminate

• Native To

  Eastern Africa

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Neutral

• Soil Moisture

  Average

• Soil type

  Loam

• Growth Rate

  Slow

• Water Requirements

  Average Water

• Habit

  Cushion/Mound-forming

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  Purple, Violet

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Winter)

  Dark Green

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  Yes

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  Yes

• Foliage Texture

  Fine

• Foliage Sheen

  Glossy

• Evergreen

  Yes

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Usage

  Container, Edging, Houseplant, Tropical

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Self-Sowing

  No