Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia 'Tiamat'

Cultivated origin of Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia 'Tiamat'

Mac's Tiamat is credited to breeder George McDonald. The shorter name 'Tiamat' is also used in cultivation.

African violets belong to Streptocarpus section Saintpaulia, whose wild species are centred in Kenya and Tanzania.

Care for Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia 'Tiamat'

• Light: Give bright filtered light to support the variegated foliage and flowering. If the plant receives direct sun, use gentle early-day light.
• Water: Use room-temperature water once the surface begins to dry and direct it below the leaves.
• Potting mix: Keep the plant in a small pot with fine, airy African-violet mix. The crown should remain at the surface.
• Temperature and airflow: Keep the plant warm with stable room temperatures and gentle airflow around the rosette.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves and buds are developing. Run plenty of plain water through the pot if fertiliser salts build up.
• Repotting and propagation: Repot when roots fill the pot or the mix becomes dense. Healthy leaf cuttings can be rooted, and separate rooted crowns can be divided.

Common problems with Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia 'Tiamat'

• Pale leaf areas turn crisp: Strong sun, drought or salt buildup can damage variegated tissue. Correct the light and watering conditions and run plain water through the pot to rinse out excess salts if present.
• Flowering slows: Give brighter filtered light and keep the plant in a small pot matched to its root system.
• The crown becomes soft: Crown rot is possible. Remove affected tissue back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rot and keep watering below the leaves.
• New growth becomes tight or distorted: Cyclamen mites or thrips may be present. Isolate the plant, inspect the central growth and use a product labelled for the identified pest and indoor ornamental plants at the stated repeat interval.

Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia ‘Tiamat’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

Streptocarpus and Saintpaulia: where the names come from

Streptocarpus means “twisted fruit”, referring to the spiralling seed capsule. Saintpaulia honours Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, who collected the plant in what is now Tanzania.

John Lindley established the genus Streptocarpus in 1828 in Botanical Register, volume 14, plate 1173.

Hermann Wendland established the genus Saintpaulia in 1893 in Gartenflora, volume 42, page 321. Saintpaulia remains familiar in horticulture, but Kanae Nishii and nine coauthors placed it within Streptocarpus after a 2015 DNA study in Taxon, volume 64.