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) 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).
- Afull sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils.
- This plant is very versatile and can be used in beds and borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, city gardens, coastal gardens, containers or as garden edging.
- Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, violet gall midge, powdery mildews, pansy leaf spot. 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.
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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 | Viola - Violets |
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) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
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 |
Famed01, Shutterstock
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.
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 | Viola - Violets |
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) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
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 |