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African Violets

Help with identifying a red Optimara African Violet

9 years ago

Identifying a Red Optimara Variety
Optimara African Violets Facebook page
Two subscribers posted a side by side comparison of red optimara violets with leaf comparisons that might be easier to look at and figure out what you have than on the ID page on the website.
Dare I add that the human eye has fewer cones and rods in the eye to identify fine differences among reds. And I just read in a Jeff Smith column, I think, that so do the insects that pollinate AVs in the wild. The insects have vision to distinguish better among various subtle shades of blue and purple.
So that is why there are no red violets in nature, nor yellow!

Joanne

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Comments (4)

Karin
9 years ago
Thank You Joanne!
That just cleared up my two reds (probably)...
What i thought was North Carolina, was actually Arkansas, And 'Pennsylvania' turned out to be North Carolina... - Apparently I was just under the impression it was really really dark, but the serrated leaves point the other way...
anyhow, whilst the latter grows really well for me, i doubt it is exciting enough to ever try and show....
However, those are the two seed parents for my first attempts at hybridizing, so even having a likely ID could come in handy down the road...

Karin
quimoi
9 years ago
Pennsylvania is a star. North Carolina appears to be a pansy (somebody correct if I'm wrong on NC). I was double-checking my Pennsylvania id, although some of it is based on the assumption that they are likely to load up Pennsylvania with "Pennsylvania."

I have seen other reds at Lowe's from time to time but never try to figure out what they are.

There's one of the red Optmaras that other hybridizers have used quite a bit. It might be California but could be Colorado (was a "c").

Diana
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I began gardening about 8 years ago, starting with annuals, rose bushes, expanding to Gailardias, Daylilies, Hydrangeas and Coneflowers.. I'm not quite there but my garden is almost established. I thought I had an edge having the net, which I did, but I never expected it would take 8 years to get to the place I wanted to be. My grandfather without any electronic resources and a far larger garden and upkeep fared better than I ever will. He's what sparked my interest and I marvel especially being in his 70's what he mastered. I don't have that green thumb and as much stamina as I have, I can never accomplish what he did. It's challenging, it's a hobby I thought I'd 'never' explore but I found it to be very rewarding. In the winter months we allow for extra spending but I couldn't think of anything but getting more African violets and chocolate :) I began AV's last spring, I think. The winter months were always daunting and I quickly realized that African Violets can give me joy all year round. My husband also tolerates my hobby and surprisingly helped me in the garden last year. Only he needs to understand that the leaves on roses shouldn't be saturated during watering and you don't just dig a hole and plant.. Hopefully he'll forgive my criticism and give me a helping hand next year. I actually think he sort of likes it ;) Thanks for the help, happy holidays!
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quimoi
9 years ago
I was just looking at user photos on MyViolet and the Optimara facebook trying to be certain that I do have Pennsylvania! The thing is that it was in a 6" pot and mostly it is not supposed to be a 6" pot one. I would not have called the leaves round.

It does appear to be Pennsylvania. On June 12, the Optimara photo of bloom types also shows Pennsylvania and Delaware side by side and there is a definite color difference and also a difference in the blossom shape. I would call Pennsylvania burgundy red (to my eye). Clementine looks shaped just like Pennsylvania in that photo. Delaware always looks a little more "ruffly" in photos anyway.

That is helpful, Joanne, but they sure omitted a good many :)

I see some ruffled one at Lowe's but since I don't collect reds, it doesn't matter. Maybe I see more than one ruffled one for that matter.

Diana
fortyseven_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi, Karin, It will be interesting to see the results . J

This post was edited by fortyseven on Sun, Jun 15, 14 at 15:29

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