- African Violets leaves can be divided into different leaf types, depending upon the feature of the leaf margin.
- Leaf margin is the boundary area along the edge of the leaf.
Here ten common leaf types are defined as below:
Plain African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a plain margin.
- They are also known as standard or boy-type leaves.
- These leaves have no markings or special edge type,so they are known as plain.
Ovate African Violet Leaf Type:
- These narrow leaves are oval / ovate in shape with a blunt tip.
- They can also be known as spooned leaf type if they have a concave cup like shape.
Pointed African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a pointed tip and are narrower at the base.
- They do not have an indented base which makes them differ from the heart shaped leaf.
Heart African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves as the name implies are heart shaped.
- They are beautifully pointed at the top and slightly indented at the base.
Serrated African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a saw-toothed margin or serrated margin.
- They are also known as dentate or fringed leaf types.
Wavy/Ruffled African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a ruffled or wavy edge.
- They are known as wavy or ruffled leaf type.
- They are sometimes accompanied with a red color underneath the leaves.
Longifolia African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves are very long, narrow and pointed.
- They are also known as spider or strap like.
- This leaf is from the plant Senks Long Legs.
Quilted African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a puffy / quilted surface texture.
- This puffiness occurs due to the presence of raised areas / ridges between the veins on the leaf.
Scalloped African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a margin with broad rounded hills, giving them the appearance of deeply scalloped edges.
Bustle African Violet Leaf Type:
- These leaves have a pair of smaller leaves on or a single leaf growth on the back of the main leaf.
- They are found behind the main leaf between the margin and petiole of the leaf.
- Usually they are found with wasp shaped flowers.
African Violet and other potting mixes shown below, also my favorite African Violet fertilizer, optimara.
Hi babyviolets…
I’ve started using ur researched during lockdown about AV.
Im enjoying learning my plants🥰;
knowing there names, there leaves formation, flowers’ style, etc…
Thank u so much
God bless!
Thank you Belen for your kind words! Regards, BV
Cute baby’s flowers it’s unique friend and happy valentine’s day.
Just found your article on tight leaf growth and found it extremely helpful to the point of I got up and was looking at my AVs with a flashlight here around midnight:)
But I was also thrilled to see this article as I did not know about these leaf types. I’m not going off with the flashlight again and ill look more in the AM. But I also want to share some humor with you…all your pics of the leaves that look similar to my inexperienced eye reminded me of a cartoon, maybe Farside, of a fly fisherman with a dozen differently named Flys that all looked identical but each with detailed and different names. 🙂 It seems a perfect comparison to how each of us can perceive things differently and I tend to find humor in most everything I do.
I’m going to keep reading. Thank u for sharing your vast knowledge
Best regards John
Hello John,
Thank you for sharing your story, yes violets can be an obsession, even at midnight. Ahh…yes you are right about the inexperienced eye, I never thought of it that way 🙂 regards, BV
Hi! Off all the different leaf types… I only seen the difference in 3. 😊.
But, your info is super good!
I have one previously cared for AV. Never in my 70 some years have I had ANY blooming plant to actually bloom. …till now. My A V is blooming!
With your suggestions, I see MORE in my home.
Thank you.
Lynn
Hello Lynn, thank you for your kind words, glad to be of help, regards, BV
Hi John I have what was told to me as a curly Leaf Violet it doesn’t seem to fit in any of the leaf categories that you’ve shown it has nothing to do with the light because they are in a bay window with full list South and West exposure they love it there. Can you confirm what kind of violet this is can’t find anything like it in my Google searches
What are the feeding and watering instructions on African VioletsThanks in advance Lisa
Hello Lisa,
I have a few articles on watering African Violets, they can be found here, https://www.babyviolets.com/how-to-water-african-violet-plants/
and https://www.babyviolets.com/wick-watering-for-african-violet-plants/ and this one too https://www.babyviolets.com/capillary-mat-watering-african-violet-plants-how-to-use-and-set-up/. With regards to fertilizing african violets can read, https://www.babyviolets.com/fertilizer-for-african-violet-plants/ . Hope this helps, regards, BV
This article was wonderful, and it’s full of so much information! This website has taught me many things about african violets and how to care for them. Unfortunately, I have a problem, one of my african violets isn’t doing so well. The plant leaves are curling inward, and some of the younger leaves are even cleft like they were pinched in the middle! I’ve also been fertilizing it with liquid fertilizer but it doesn’t want to bloom again! Do you have any suggestions?
Hello,
Glad to hear the article was helpful. If the leaves are curling inwards, it may mean too much light. Try moving the plant to a shaded position or lower the blinds to provide filtered light, if near a window. How long ago was the soil re-potted, if more than 6 months, then it may be time for re-potting. If it doesnt need re-potting, maybe its in a big pot, violets like to be in slightly smaller sized pots 2-4 inches. You can try draining out the fertilizer, if its over fertilized, by pouring water from the top of the soil and allowing it to leach out from the bottom. If the water that comes out from bottom is too brown/dark, it may be leaching out fertilizer salts, which is good. If its clear, then your ok too. For blooms, I have tried optimara fertilizer, https://amzn.to/3oXUvCB, I usually see buds in 2-4 weeks. Hope this helps, BV