PLANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The African Violet Society of America, Inc. (AVSA) is the authorized International Cultivar Registration Authority for the genus Streptocarpus, section Saintpaulia (commonly known as the African violet).
The files are maintained both in two forms for interested growers to access:
- Digital – First Class for All (software with update subscription)
- Print – African Violet Master List (MVL)
Requirements to Name a Cultivar
- You are the hybridizer of the plant or the discoverer of the sport (mutation) of a plant, or you have written permission from the hybridizer or his/her heirs
- You have reproduced the plant asexually (e.g. leaf cutting or, in the case of a chimera, sucker propagation) through at least three generations, and the offspring have reproduced true to the original plant.
- The name of the plant complies with the provisions set forth in the most recent edition of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
Cultivar Names to Be Avoided
- Names likely to be confused with already existing named cultivars or those closely related (e.g., ‘Bonnie Bell’ is a registered cultivar, so ‘Bonny Belle’ is unacceptable.)
- Excessively long names or phrases — the name is limited to 30 characters (excluding spaces) overall.
- A name that is the Latin or common name of another genus or species (e.g. ‘Carnation’).
- Any name with any of the following words: variety, form, cross, hybrid, group, mutant, seedling, sport, strain, improved.
- Any punctuation mark other than apostrophe, comma, single exclamation point, hyphen, or period.
Requirements to Register a Cultivar
- If you have made the cross for this new cultivar, you are the hybridizer. If not, then applicants need written permission from the hybridizer to register any cultivar for which they have not made the crosses.
- To register a cultivar you need to reproduce it vegetatively (leaf, sucker, etc.) through three or more generations. (The first “baby” from the original plant is the first generation.) Your cultivar should reproduce true at least 90% of the time.
- You know the names of the parent plants used in the cross, or, in the case of a sport, the name of the plant from which the sport mutated. (It’s not necessary that the parents be registered.)
- Cultivars from seeds for which the parentage is unknown may not be registered.
- Give a complete blossom and foliage description. Do not give a flowery, exaggerated description. Keep it short and concise, but complete.
- Plants or leaves of your plants must be available to the general public, either by gift or by sale, if you wish to register this plant.
- If a living person’s name is being used as a cultivar name, a letter of permission from that person must accompany the name reservation or registration application. Written permission is also necessary before using the name of any famous person, copyright, or trademark (e.g. musical group, cartoon character, etc.).
- We require at least one clear photo (paper or digital) showing blossoms and foliage. Send them by e-mail to registration@avsa.org or mail to the Registrar. (Mail address may be found in the “Registration Report” column in the African Violet Magazine.)
Registration Process
- Download the Application for Registration using the link below. This is a fillable PDF form that you can complete on your computer. (NOTE: Some browsers will not display the fillable form fields, in which case you will need to view the PDF file with Adobe Reader or other PDF reader.)
- Download the Instructions from the link below. Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the Application for Registration.
- Send at least one clear photo (digital preferred) by email, as directed in the instructions.
- Remit the registration fee(s) to the AVSA office using the link below. Forward your email with the purchase confirmation to the Registrar registration@avsa.org as proof of payment.
Once the application is received, the Plant Registration and Master Plant List Committee will process it. If they have any questions, they will contact you. The committee reserves the right to reject the application if the plant does not meet the requirements set forth above.
The name, description, and registration information will be published in the “Registration Report” column in the African Violet Magazine. Also, the plant will be listed in the next published edition of the African Violet Master List of Species and Cultivars (AVML), and it will be added to the First Class computer database.
How to List a Cultivar Only (Not Register It)
The plant does not need to be registered in order to be listed in the AVML and First Class. However, it should generally comply with the Requirement to Register Cultivar (See tab #3.)
The hybridizer (or discoverer of a sport) may send the name and description of the plant to the Plant Registration and Master Plant List Chairman registration@avsa.org
Registration should be reserved for plants that are significantly different from any named cultivar.
Fee Schedule for Registration
- The registration fee is $5.00 per application for AVSA members ($25.00 for non-members) in US and Canada.
- The fee for other international non-members is $10 USD per application.
Deadline for Submission of Registration Application
- The deadline for submitting applications is three months before publication of each African Violet Magazine (October 1 for January AVM, etc.)
- Applications received after the deadline will not be published until the next publication date.
