Exacum affine Princess Deep Blue | Persian Violet

Princess Deep Blue is a compact Persian Violet covered with beautiful deep blue, star-shaped flowers with bright yellow centres. The flowers have a delicate sweet fragrance and remain attractive for a long time.

The Princess series has been developed especially as a compact flowering pot plant. It grows only around 10–15 cm tall, but spreads to approximately 18–20 cm, creating a naturally full and attractive plant.

It is a lovely choice for pots, windowsills, balconies, terraces and summer container displays.

Plant Information

• Scientific name: Exacum affine
• Variety: Princess Deep Blue
• Common name: Persian Violet
• Flower colour: Deep blue with yellow centre
• Flower type: Small, star-shaped flowers
• Fragrance: Sweetly fragrant
• Height: 10–15 cm
• Width: 18–20 cm
• Plant habit: Compact and bushy
• Exposure: Sun / bright position
• Blooming season: Spring, summer and into autumn
• Seed type: Pelleted
• Days to bloom: Approx. 105–126 days from sowing*
• Best for: Pots, windowsills, balconies, terraces and container displays

The breeder describes Princess as a fast-production series with long-lasting, sweetly fragrant flowers and excellent shelf life.

*The flowering time is an approximate calculation based on the breeder's professional schedule: 5–6 weeks for young plant production, followed by approximately 10 weeks in summer or 12 weeks in spring to produce a finished flowering plant.

How to Grow from Seed

Princess Deep Blue is supplied as pelleted seed, which makes the tiny seed easier to handle.

Sow one pellet per cell or small pot onto a fine, moist seed-starting compost.

Do not cover the seed. Exacum needs light during germination, so leave the pellet on the surface of the compost. Water carefully after sowing so that the pellet becomes thoroughly moist and begins to dissolve.

Keep the seeds warm at approximately 22–24°C during the first stage of germination. Keep the compost moist, but not waterlogged.

Once seedlings begin developing, a temperature of around 20–21°C and plenty of light are suitable.

Growing & Care

Grow Princess Deep Blue in a bright, warm position. Although the plant enjoys good light, when grown indoors it is best to avoid extremely hot conditions behind glass.

Keep the compost slightly and evenly moist, but make sure the pot has good drainage. Avoid leaving the roots sitting in water.

Princess Deep Blue naturally remains small and compact, making it particularly suitable for 10 cm pots and other small decorative containers. The breeder's professional production guide is specifically designed around growing one plant in a 10 cm pot.

During flowering, a regular liquid fertiliser suitable for flowering container plants can be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

A Small Plant with Lots of Flowers

Princess Deep Blue is particularly attractive because it combines a very compact plant with masses of small flowers.

The deep blue petals contrast beautifully with the bright yellow flower centres, while the delicate fragrance makes the plant even more enjoyable when grown close to seating areas, on a balcony or indoors.

With a mature height of only 10–15 cm, Princess Deep Blue is an excellent choice when you want a small, elegant and fragrant flowering plant for pots.