Petal perfect:
The African Violet gets prime placement at Hong Kong Park Forsgate Conservatory, in a special exhibit to showcase varieties of the flower.
Petal perfect:
The African Violet gets prime placement at Hong Kong Park Forsgate Conservatory, in a special exhibit to showcase varieties of the flower.
Rare delights:
The 'hobby violets' in the exhibition are more valuable, and have more stringent care needs.
Rare delights:
The 'hobby violets' in the exhibition are more valuable, and have more stringent care needs.
African violets enliven HK Park
March 10, 2013
The African Violet, a popular indoor ornamental plant in Hong Kong, takes pride of place at the Hong Kong Park Forsgate Conservatory, in a special exhibit to introduce its common and exotic varieties.
Known also by its scientific name Saintpaulia ionantha, it blooms all year long in a favourable environment and is easy to propagate. More than 300 pots of this elegant plant are on show.
Hong Kong Park’s Deputy Manager (Greenhouse & Aviary) Kathy Chan says some African Violet species are commonly seen in the market, and are known as 'supermarket violets'.
The so-called 'hobby violets', on the other hand, come in various colours, with unusual shapes and leaves. They cost much more than common ones, and require more care.
Ms Chan highlighted the Chimera hobby violet, with a special pinwheel-like petal, and the spotted Geneva-edged Fantasy, as two particularly interesting hobby violets.
African Violet leaves are also divided into many types, including ruffled, pointed, and variegated leaves.
The exhibition showcases African Violet growth habits and the best ways to plant them. Display panels suggest the optimum temperature, lighting, soil, fertiliser, watering, propagation methods and pest control.
The exhibition attracted more than 4,700 visitors a day during the Lunar New Year, and is open daily from 9am to 5pm until March 31. For details, visit the Leisure & Cultural Services Department
website.
