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Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump up)

Johnny Jump up, Heartsease, Heart's Ease, Heart's Delight, Wild Pansy, Tickle-My-Fancy, Jack-Jump-Up-and-Kiss-Me, Come-and-Cuddle-Me, Three Faces in a Hood, Love-in-Idleness

Viola tricolor, Johnny Jump up, Heartsease, Heart's Ease, Heart's Delight, Tickle-My-Fancy, Jack-Jump-Up-and-Kiss-Me, Come-and-Cuddle-Me, Three Faces in a Hood, Love-in-Idleness, Shade plants, shade perennial, violet flowers, plants for shade

Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump up) is a tufted annual, biennial, or short-lived, evergreen perennial boasting wonderful three-toned flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), atop spreading stems. The blossoms typically feature dark purple upper petals, pale purple or pale yellow middle petals, and a dark yellow lower petal with dark streaks. Blooming over a long season extending from spring to fall, they prefer cool weather and often die back when hot weather arrives. The flowers arise from the attractive evergreen foliage of oval, deeply lobed, green leaves. Viola tricolor spreads widely by profuse self-sowing and delights us by showing up where we least expect it. It is called ‘Johnny Jump up’ in reference to its tendency to throw seeds everywhere. Despite its small size, Viola tricolor has captivated people for centuries.

  • Easily growing up to 6-12 in. tall and wide (15-30 cm).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils.
  • This plant is versatile and can be used in beds and borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, city gardens, coastal gardens, containers, or garden edging.
  • Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, aphids, glasshouse red spider mites, violet gall midge, powdery mildews, and pansy leaf spots. Deer resistant.
  • Cut back after flowering.
  • Propagate by seed sown in late winter or early spring.
  • Native to Eurasia.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Violets (Viola): How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for Violets like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these charming plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2
Plant Type Annuals, Herbs, Perennials
Plant Family Violaceae
Genus Viola
Common names Johnny Jump Up
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 6" - 12"
(15cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Viola palustris (Marsh Violet)
Viola sempervirens (Evergreen Violet)
Viola pedatifida (Prairie Violet)
Viola glabella (Pioneer Violet)
Viola rotundifolia (Round-Leaved Violet)
Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

Recommended Companion Plants

Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)
Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry)
Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

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Viola (Violet)
Native Plant Alternatives to Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump up)
Pansies: How to Grow and Care with Success
Violets (Viola): How to Grow and Care with Success
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2
Plant Type Annuals, Herbs, Perennials
Plant Family Violaceae
Genus Viola
Common names Johnny Jump Up
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 6" - 12"
(15cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Viola (Violet)
Not sure which Viola (Violet) to pick?
Compare Now

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