True red is elusive and the search for it has been the subject of a number of discussions. Perhaps, the color is in the eye of the beholder. Having read some of these discussions, I will list some of the varieties that were chosen as good reds: Decelles Flamingo, Lady in Red, Bob Serbin, Tatanka, Lyons Red Rocket, EK Bull Fight and various varieties of Mac's. The latter hybridizer specializes in reds.

I have grown a few in the above list but the reddest I've found is Optimara Little Maya. I'm interested to learn what others have experienced with reds.

I'm jealous of your finding a greenhouse that supplies so many named AV's! Its usually Optimara around here. Perhaps, its just as well as I don't have much will power when it comes to violets!

Terri

Ha, yes, we are lucky that we have a nursery here that carries AV's. We have another place in town that carries named AV's but for whatever reason, their vendor does not provide the identification along with the plant. I have had several discussions w their mgr and she assured me that she would rectify that problem. We'll see. At any rate, I need another plant like I need an elbow growing out of my forehead! When we went, we agreed that we would just be looking. That didn't work since they had just gotten a large shipment in and nobody had picked it over yet. She got two and I got two!

My Optimara lady that used to work at Home Depot doesn't work there any more. She was the person in charge of ordering plants and she liked AV's. She would order specific Optimara plants from her vendor and have them write the names on the sides of the planter. I think that cost her a little extra but otherwise it's a guess as to what it is.

I don't buy Optimara's anymore but I still have 7 or 8 beautiful plants that I like as good or better than some of my named plants.

Right now I have more than a dozen AV's in full bloom and not a red in sight.

Thanks for the heads up.

Actually, there are "red" blooming African Violets. What's not as available is a true bright red.

I like Hot Spot ... a very nice semi-double red with ruffled foliage.

I think that leaves are available from Bloomlovers on ebay.

I've no idea, Just curious.

Would the color not depend considerably upon the viewing light?

You're right, Albert ...

I think that it's a consensus that red African Violets look better under fluorescent lighting ...

I have not seen "Hot Spot" yet. I just found it curious that with all of the thousands of hybrid's out there, nobody has yet to achieve my rose red AV. Since I'm wishing anyway, Id like to have a semi-miniature with red pansy flowers and dark green regular leaves. A Christmas plant so to speak!

I have some nice lights on my plant racks. They make the colors "pop"! My red mini-roses look absolutely RED under the lights! Maybe somewhere down the road, some AV genius will get it right and we'll have a new "must have".

Thanks for the responses. Keep your eyes peeled for that red one!

aegis1000,

What about the Fire Flower you gifted a few of us? Mine hasn't bloom yet so I don't know yet (got buds now finally). I thought you said it's real red.

The Lyon's Red Rocket aegis1000 gave to me is deep red, not bright red.

The Fire Flower is a "real Red", ... although not a particularly BRIGHT red. The color is not so deep as Red Rocket, but also not the "cherry red" that the marketing photos suggest. It's been a while since my one blooming plant ... has bloomed, but it has buds again, so I will get a chance to evaluate the color again in a brief while.

Of course, you'll be able to see for yourself shortly, as well ...

Buffalo Hunt also comes to mind. It also kinda depends on what you're idea if red is. Bright, cherry red or a deeper, richer red.

Thanks Vikki. I have a Buffalo Hunt that just arrived in a 2" pot. It had a damaged bloom on it that I hope is not going to be exactly how they all are. It arrived in very good condition otherwise w several other bloom stalks present. I should know something in the next several weeks. It will be a handsome plant even if it does not meet my hopes for the shade of red it will be.

Hi Jeff, I think Optimara Pennsylvania is a beautiful deep red. I have one and I truly do love it. Rosie

The following is fairly representative of the color of the Russian "Fiery Flower" (LE Ognennyj Tsvetok) ...

Beautiful. Mine will open up in the next couple of weeks I think. I will post once buds open. I saw Lyndon Lyon now carries this. If anyone wants it, you can get from there.

Here is my Fire Flower. It finally opened up.

The actual color is a shade darker.

Here is indoor. The one on left is Ness Antique Red

Very pretty Julie!!!! Rosie

I had looked at that fire flower before and almost pulled the trigger. Yours seems to be very bright and most certainly some shade of red. I like it!

Jeff,.

I would not call it bright (not like rose). It's still kind of dark, but no pink in it. So it's a true red.

There is always a tint - either purple or coral. Probably the reason is the natural pigments in AVs are not red-red - but a combination. A lot of older reds are more on a dark rusty side - so it very much depends on the light to play well - or look like a dead meat. But recently the quest for true reds brought us very good reds. I think there is one semi-mini by George McDonald that comes pretty much as a true red, no Photoshop needed.

Jeff,

Today when I look at my Fire Flower, I am in love. This one the bloom is big and striking. Another picture.

Yes. Very nice! I have a similar passion for the reds. I am currently going through withdrawals since I am in mid thrip treatment. All the kids hanging around naked! Kinda boring.

???? Rosie

I grew DeCelles Flamingo, bought from Lyons. It was very red, but it faded fast. After a few days the color was all washed out. Heartbreak Kid was the same, not as red as D.Flamingo, but faded just as quickly.

Rosie, I don't know if your question marks were intended for me or not but just in case, I will explain.

I got tired of "Thrip Wars". I have had them on and off for over a year and after recently finding a couple more on a few plants, I went to "DEFCON 4". I debudded/flowered everything in the house. On Wednesday I gave everything green in the house an "Avid" bath.

After two more Wednesdays, I will resume normal operations. Hopefully I'll have some peace w/o them rascals eating up my plants.

All went well and all of my plants seem none the worse for wear. They really, really want to grow some flowers though. Holy mackerel, I have not seem bloom stems like this in a long time!

Yes, the question marks were for you because I didn't understand the "naked" remark! Never mind what I was thinking,,,,,now that you explain I will think that remark was meant because you debudded everything???? No flowers or buds? Hence naked????

Yes,,,sometimes I can be "dense"!!!!! Rosie

Hah! We live out in the country in Florida, naked or at least near naked kids are an every day activity around here! In this day and age, probably not the best analogy though. A elderly friend of mine puts it much better. She says that the "ladies look funny without their colorful hats"!

Hahahahaha,,,got it,,,,different words for different people!!!! lol Rosie

Admittedly photo is doctored, but I doctored it to look like what I see in natural light (ie window), it photographs much much more purple than my eye sees. This is a shot of Jolly Mars, it's one of the better reds I've had (note that I didn't do AVs for fiveteen years between 2000 and 2016, so may be quite out of touch). It's a mini and seems to want to live (despite being a bit neglected during the past winter). Plant is just getting back in swing, which is why you only get to see the flowers, not the whole thing.

I think it is beautiful! I have a leaf of Jolly Mars and now I know what to look forward to! Rosie

Dang! I almost bought one of those and changed my mind. It is really stunning and it appears to be a pansy type, my current favorite!