African violets are of the genus Saintpaulia which is named in honor of Walter, Freiherr (baron) von Saint Paul-Illaire who was the German colonial official who is credited with their discovery in German East Africa (now Tanzania) in 1892.

Saintpaulia genus plants are small perennial plants with thick, hairy, ovate leaves. These leaves have long petioles (leaf stems) and are arranged in a cluster at the base of the plant. The flowers are bilaterally symmetric with five petals and can be single or multiple colors. The tiny seeds are produced in a capsule and plants are easily propagated from leaf cuttings.

It is a genus of of six species of flowering plants in the Gesneriad family that are native to higher elevations in tropical eastern Africa. They are common houseplants, especially Saintpaulia ionantha, and can thrive in low light conditions and bloom throughout the year. Thousands of varieties have been developed for their various flower and leaf colors and shapes as well as sizes from miniatures, semi-miniature, standard and large. Some also refer to varieties being micro-miniature and giant.