A beautiful, basic, starter houseplant is the African Violet.

For those who aren't too good with names, it basically looks like a furrier leaved, less wrinkled version of a Primrose or Primula (leaves & shape wise) & has either a purple, pink, or white flower.

African violets are originally desert flowers, which makes them good houseplants for someone who hasn't yet learned to remember to care for & water their plants themselves yet. They're very hardy & used to sorting themselves out. As with all desert flowers though - they wont flower unless they're being properly looked after.

As with most flowers, the intense colour means that there isn't much of a perfume to them (you tend to get an intensity of one or the other as a general rule of thumb) - but, in the case of the African Violet, the colour more than makes up for the lack of perfume & makes it a good choice for flower lovers with hay-fever or pollen allergy.

The African Violet is a fantastic present for anyone! - It's virtually impossible to kill & is very happy as long as it is in a sunny spot & you keep the compost just moist to the touch.

One tip when watering though: It is essential to lift up the leaves at the base of the plant & try not to splash them while watering. As with most plants that have a hairy covering to the leaves & stems (touch one - you'll see what I mean!) they don't like their leaves wet & leaves that have been wet will discolour, but these can easily be picked off to leave a beautiful mass of deep green leaves.

Another cool trait of the African Violet, is that they are REALLY easy to multiply.

A single leaf (or it has been known to work with a piece of leaf) tucked half into a pot of damp, rich, potting compost will put down roots & create a new plant in only a couple of weeks. - So from your one plant, you could do birthday or other presents for all the family.

Due to the ease of keeping them; their small size; & the pretty flowers, an African Violet makes a very versatile present.
* For artsy types, teens & students, try the bright Purple variety to give a homely touch to digs.
* For children, the African Violet's hardiness & near impossibility to kill, makes it a good first learning houseplant for developping gardening skills, as well as teaching your child to nurture something.
* For people who are ill, the bright, cheerful colour, low pollen & easy care, make it a perfect present.
* For men, it's a suitably masculine flower, being both bold & not overly delicate. (Yes, there are guys out there who love to be given flowers - try it some time!)

For anyone sensitive to energies/auras, the African Violet can also be extremely popular. Energetically speaking, the African Violet tends to be thought of as a "Masculine" energy plant. It has a powerful, yet quiet, strength energy which is great for working with confidence & reassurance. Picking colours to correspond with the goal you want to achieve can be beneficial. For example: To make a space neutral, yet homely, try a white one. A bright pink in a master bedroom adds a touch of romance. For someone who's a bit low, a purple will give them a boost & let them know how much they mean.

So, don't underestimate the African Violet. It may be simple, it may be ideal for children, but bringing one into your space as an adult can be hugely rewarding too!

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