Gesneriaceae
African violet
Streptocarpus ionanthus
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Genus
- Streptocarpus
Pets and kids
- CatsSafe
- DogsSafe
- KidsSafe
Why
Cats: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: African Violet - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Dogs: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to dogs. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: African Violet - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Kids: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list Poison control
![African violet: Saintpaulia ionantha Vernacular names [ edit wikidata M3210576 ] English : African violet нохчийн : Africká fialka Deutsch : Usambaraveilchen français : Saintpa](/plants/streptocarpus-ionanthus/photos/6c11c7eafd591c4e-l.webp)
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Is African violet safe for cats, dogs and kids?
Is African violet safe for cats?
Our sources call African violet non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: African Violet - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is African violet safe for dogs?
Our sources call African violet non-toxic to dogs. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: African Violet - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is African violet safe for kids?
Our sources call African violet non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list Poison control
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.
Similar names and close relatives
A shared name doesn't mean a shared answer: check the exact plant.
- Sweet violet Viola odoratasimilar nameCats: Not sure; Dogs: Not sure; Kids: Not sure
Common names
By language (24)
- Afrikaans
- Usambaraviooltjie
- Catalan
- Violeta africana
- Chinese
- 非洲堇, 非洲紫罗兰, 通温非洲堇, 非洲堇属, 非洲堇屬, 非洲紫羅蘭, 非洲紫蘿蘭
- Dutch
- Kaaps viooltje
- English
- African violet, African violets
- Estonian
- Aafrika kannike, Varjukannike, Kannikeseõieline säntpoolia
- Finnish
- Orvokkipaavalinkukka, Usambaranpaavalinkukka
- frr
- Usambaraveilchen
- German
- Usambaraveilchen
- hsb
- Afriska fijałka
- Hungarian
- Afrikaiibolya, Uzambara-ibolya
- Japanese
- セントポーリア, アフリカスミレ属, セントポーリア属
- Kazakh
- Wzambar fïalkası, Узамбар фиалкасы, ۋزامبار فىيالكاسى, Сенполия
- Lithuanian
- Sanpaulija, Afrikos žibutė
- Persian
- بنفشه آفریقایی, بنفشه افریقایی, بنفشهٔ آفریقایی, بنفشهٔ افریقایی
- Polish
- Sępolia fiołkowa
- Portuguese
- Saintpaulia, Violeta africana, Violeta-africana
- Russian
- Сенполия, Сенполия фиалкоцветковая, Узамбарская фиалка
- Slovenian
- Afriška vijolica, Sanpavlija
- Spanish
- Saintpaulia, Violeta africana, Violeta de Africa, Violeta de África
- Swedish
- Saintpaulia, Prinsessblomma
- Thai
- แอฟริกันไวโอเล็ต
- Turkish
- Afrika menekşesi
- Ukrainian
- Сенполія, Африканська фіалка
Synonyms
- Petrocosmea ionantha (H.Wendl.) Rodigas
- Saintpaulia ionantha H.Wendl.
- Saintpaulia ionantha var. albescens Bedd.
- Saintpaulia kewensis C.B.Clarke
- Saintpaulia tongwensis B.L.Burtt
Photos
![African violet: Saintpaulia ionantha Vernacular names [ edit wikidata M3210576 ] English : African violet нохчийн : Africká fialka Deutsch : Usambaraveilchen français : Saintpa](/plants/streptocarpus-ionanthus/photos/6c11c7eafd591c4e-s.webp)
Photo: Wildfeuer, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Carrie Seltzer, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Chandralekha CT, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Ewout Knoester, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Valentin Moser, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Tom Field, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
More in Streptocarpus
- False African violetStreptocarpus saxorumGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus rexiiGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus betsiliensisGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus caulescensGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus cyaneusGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus fanniniaeGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus goetzeiGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus heckmannianusGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus prolixusGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus strigosusGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus afroviolaGesneriaceae
- Streptocarpus albusGesneriaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names from SimplePlant editors (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.