Exacum affine Persian Violet Flowers
PERSIAN VIOLET
Exacum affine is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Yemen. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. A small herbaceous biennial plant with dark green, ovate leaves. The small purple flowers have a yellow centre.
The Yemenite island of Socotra lies in the Indian Ocean. A warm and dry place, the island is a paradise for plants, including species that are not to be found anywhere else in the world. The Persian violet is one of them, although the plant is now on display in countless living-rooms. Danish companies are particularly active in marketing it on a vast scale. You will find Persian violets with their purplish-blue or white flowers at garden centers and florists between April and November. They are then about five months old.
Persian violets are compact and make no special demands as far as their care is concerned. If they are given average amounts of water, preferably a lot of plant food, and plenty of light, but not excessively strong sunlight, the plants will flower over a long period and its slightly succulent leaves will remain in good condition. The only thing the Persian violet really cannot tolerate is cold, and it is sold as an indoor plant for that reason. From June onwards, it is warm enough for the plants to be put out-of-doors. They may be planted in a flower-bed or else in a trough (traditionally in a row of alternatively white and blue flowers). Try the plant on its own in a zinc pot (with drainage holes) or in a hanging basket.
