If you treat it well and rejuvenate it every so often (check out the FAQ on how to do that), it can probably live for a loong time. Apparently the oldest AV on record, "superman", was some 54 years old - passed from one owner to the next, but finally didn't survive the last move.

I am told though, that, as some AV's age, they will not bloom as frequently or bountifully anymore.

My oldest is currently about 4-5 years, I think, hard to tell unless you keep proper records.... I never grew them before that.

Karin

The most common cause of violet death is overwatering. If you water carefully (wait for the soil to dry out before watering again and never let the pot sit in water) and repot every 6 months to a year into light, fluffy soil, they can live a good long time. My current oldest is about 8 years old.