Skip to content
The Patent Garden

Plant

African violet

276 US plant patents name this plant. 275 have expired, so those cultivars are free to propagate and sell. The next of the 1 still protected comes off patent on July 12, 2039.

Still under patent — 1 cultivar

Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.

Already in the public domain — 275 cultivars

Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.

Botanically this is Saintpaulia. A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked. Any brand name it is sold under is a separate thing and may still be owned.