African violet , Saintpaulia ionantha and its hybrids with other species, is one of the most popular of all houseplants. It is a favorite of hobby hybridists. There are countless thousands of cultivars. The plant grows in a variety of sizes from miniature to extra large. There are a wide array of leaf shapes, color variations and forms.
Flowers also occur in a wide array of colors, sizes and types.
Due to the fuzzy leaves that are sensitive to cold water it is best to water from the bottom. African violet grows and blooms in low light. Moderate light will burn or discolor the plant. Aeschynanthus lobbianus and A. pulcher are known as lipstick plants . They are trailing plants with green leaves and tubular flowers that have a brownish tubular calyx out of which emerges the bright red flowers that appear to be a tube of lipstick until the petals open.