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African Violets
infinitee

Summerwinds Finds

9 years ago

The chain nursery Summerwinds seems to have contracted with a grower that does not have the usual kinds of violets. Take a look at what I found recently.


Lavender with darker tips on the flowers. Some of them a cupped.

A plant like this can occasionally be seen around here, but this one is larger then it looks.

This you do not see around here. Looks like one of the twenty million versions of Playful Spectrum.

Frosty Frolic?. I never see greens here. There was even a double white that has variable light yellow streaks. The yellow photographed best in a spent blossom.

I kind of wonder about growers that seem to sell violets that have a name and yet do not label them. Maybe keeping track of all those plants is a hassle?. But the other plants they sell have names, not just types of plants attached. I'm just puzzled.




Comments (5)

  • 9 years ago

    Absolutely lovely plants ...

    I'd agree that these are not Optimara varieties.

    I recall, also, that AV's that I would pick up at retail outlets (groceries, hardwares, convenience stores, etc.) had identification. It seems that Holtkamp (Optimara) started the drop in identification when it became apparent that they (Holtkamp) could not guaranty that the right labels would stay with the right plants. Reportedly they stopped labeling when customers complained about the wrong identification being on plants offered at retail outlets.

    I never really could understand that it was that big of an issue, but since then I've seen the fervor of the AV community when it comes to mis-identification of plants, ... especially when some growers will offer these same, possibly misidentified plants, for sale to others ...

  • 9 years ago

    The last one seems to be Frozen in Time, The previous is - yeah- sporting - but iI doubt it is a Playful Spectrum - because it PS has star flowers these look like pansies to me - can be Amour Elite... or several others... it is sporting anyway...

    If you keep pestering Summerwinds - they probably can give you a contact number for their supplier and you can bum a tour from these people if you are very persistent.

    Having violets is much better than NOT having violets. Even if they are unlabeled. But if you brought them home without labels.,.. that's how they should remain.

    IMHO - keeping the plants labeled, knowing who and where hybridized them - add spice to the collection. But for some people it is not that interesting, they are more excited to see AVs from an artistic point of view, enjoying the shapes and the colors. So - it is a personal choice.

    For me - if one of mine croaks - I can reacquire it using the name.. Or if it doesn't grow in my conditions - I will know what not to buy. Anonymous is an inconvenience. But - it is a free country.


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  • 9 years ago

    Here's an example of a version of Playful Spectrum. You can definitely see the difference in the flowers from the plant above.

  • 9 years ago

    Sorry...I forgot to attach the photo.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Misstee, you are fortunate indeed to have a nursery that has variety! Lucky you!!!!

    I shall not comment on the Optimara non-label issue. Everyone already knows how I feel.

    BUT I will comment on the beautiful violets pictured in this thread!!!! Lovely!!! Rosie

    Misstee thanked Rosie1949
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