Deinostigma tamiana (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton & H.J.Atkins

Vietnamese Violet, Asian Violet, Chirita tamiana, Primulina tamiana

Easy careTerrestrial5–15 cm

Native to Vietnam, this tiny member of the African violet family (Gesneriaceae) forms a neat rosette of soft, mid-green leaves rarely more than 2.5 cm long — and then flowers almost continuously, producing a steady succession of white trumpet-shaped blooms marked with purple in the throat. In the wild it grows in shaded, humid conditions, which is exactly what a closed terrarium or bottle garden provides. It is exceptionally compact, one of the few plants genuinely suited to small sealed glass vessels, and it starts flowering as quickly as six months from seed.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Vietnamese Violet image

Photo by Michael Wolf·CC BY-SA 3.0

Care

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Shade tolerant

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Medium (40–60%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
15°C – 27°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)LoamyPeat moss

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 6.5

Appearance

Growth habit

RosetteClumping

Leaf shape

OvalRound

Leaf texture

FuzzyVelvety

Distribution

Propagation

Remove a healthy leaf with its petiole intact and insert the base into moist compost or a coir mix, burying the stem base just enough so it stays upright. Cover with a cloche or humidity dome to hold moisture around the cutting. New plantlets emerge from the buried base, following the same pattern as African violet leaf propagation. This method works year-round indoors.

References

  1. 1

    Kew POWO — Chirita tamiana B.L.Burtt (synonym entry; accepted name redirects to Metapetrocosmea tamiana; first published in Gloxinian 49: 20 (1999))

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1010216-1
  2. 2

    Kew POWO — Deinostigma tamianum (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton & H.J.Atkins (synonym; first published in Gard. Bull. Singapore 68: 158 (2016); accepted name: Metapetrocosmea tamiana)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77157237-1
  3. 3

    Wikispecies — Deinostigma tamianum (accepted name: Deinostigma tamianum (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton & H.J.Atkins, 2016; family Gesneriaceae; native: Vietnam; synonyms: Chirita tamiana B.L.Burtt (basionym), Primulina tamiana (B.L.Burtt) Mich.Möller & A.Weber (2011))

    https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Deinostigma_tamianum
  4. 4

    Gesneriad Reference Web — Metapetrocosmea tamiana (originally distributed as Chirita eberhardtii; exhibited at 2012 Gesneriad Society convention; true miniature blooming in six months from seed; synonyms: Chirita tamiana, Primulina tamiana, Deinostigma tamiana)

    https://gesneriads.info/genera/deinostigma-tamiana/
  5. 5

    NParks Flora & Fauna Web — Deinostigma tamiana (family Gesneriaceae; Vietnam native; leaf blade ovate to orbicular to 2.5 cm long × 2 cm wide; hairy/hirsute texture; mid–dark green; white flowers with dark purplish-black markings in throat; rosettes to 10(–15) cm diameter; semi-shade; moist well-drained fertile loamy soils; easy to grow; seed and leaf cutting propagation)

    https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/6/0/6017
  6. 6

    Pumpkin Beth — Deinostigma tamiana: a fabulous terrarium plant that's almost always in flower! (common names: Vietnamese Violets; origin Vietnam; heart-shaped soft green leaves; white flowers with purple markings; light: shade to bright indirect; temperature 15–27 °C; moist coir compost; easy; propagation: leaf cuttings, seeds, division; suitable for closed and open glass bottle gardens; mature plants need ~40 cm terrarium height)

    https://www.pumpkinbeth.com/2020/10/growing-deinostigma-tamiana
  7. 7

    Glass Box Tropicals — Chirita tamiana (compact rosette; leaves under 1 inch diameter; white and purple flowers; self-pollinating; flowers within ~6 months of seed germination; warm to cool growing; medium to high moisture; Vietnam)

    https://glassboxtropicals.com/chirita-tamiana/
  8. 8

    Gardenia.net — Asian Violet (Deinostigma tamiana): All You Need To Know (common name: Asian Violet; family Gesneriaceae; Vietnam; temperature 15–27 °C; humidity 60–70%; USDA zones 10–11; bright indirect light; well-draining organic potting mix; closed and open terrarium suitable)

    https://www.gardenia.net/plant/deinostigma-tamiana-asian-violet-grow-care-guide
  9. 9

    RHS — Deinostigma tamiana (name status: correct; family Gesneriaceae; synonym: Chirita tamiana; 1 supplier listed; not native to GB/Ireland)

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/377787/deinostigma-tamiana/details
  10. 10

    Spiffy Seeds — Deinostigma tamiana seeds (light: sun to light shade; compact 2–3 inch plant; leaf propagation similar to African violets; seeds surface-sown; easy)

    https://grey-perch-dt3e.squarespace.com/shop/p/chirita-tamiana-form-deinostigma-tamiana-seeds
  11. 11

    Biotopo.eu — Chirita tamiana (partial shade preferred; 20–25 °C optimal; high humidity; compact rosette; hairy dark green leaves; white-purple flowers; closed tropical terrarium)

    https://www.biotopo.eu/chirita-tamiana/