4 named cultivars

annual or short-lived perennial

Johnny Jump Up

Viola tricolor

The Story

Plant Bio

Viola tricolor, heartsease or wild pansy, is a low creeping to erect herbaceous plant from Europe and Asia, standing only 3 to 10 in tall and 3 to 12 in wide. Glabrous leaf blades under 1.5 in long sit below flowers that combine purple, yellow and white in a single small face, produced through spring and summer.

It behaves as an annual or short-lived perennial and keeps itself going by self-sowing; the three-valved capsule flicks its seed away as it dries. The flowers are edible with a faint minty note, and the plant supports fritillary butterfly larvae as well as honeybees, bumblebees and syrphid flies.

Uses & Benefits:

Small three-coloured faces over a long spring and summer season, filling gaps in paving, gravel and border edges.

Edible flowers with a faint minty flavour for salads and decoration, and a plant that maintains itself by self-sowing.

A larval host for fritillary butterflies and a nectar source for honeybees, bumblebees, long-tongued bees and syrphid flies.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Annual Or Short-Lived Perennial

Height

8 inches

Width

10 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium; keep evenly moist through the season

Humidity

Prefers cool moist air; fades in dry heat

Lifespan

Short-lived; persists by self-sowing

Native To

Europe and Asia

Toxicity

Flowers are edible; no significant toxicity reported

Planting

How to Grow

Sow seed in situ in early spring or late summer in moist soil.
Choose full sun to partial shade; it dislikes hot afternoon glare.
Barely cover the seed and keep the surface damp until germination.
Thin seedlings to about 6 in apart once large enough to handle.
Deadhead regularly to extend flowering into summer.
Let the last flush set seed if you want it to return next year.

Pro Tip

Stop deadheading in late summer and it will sow its own replacements; deadhead to the end and the colony disappears.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Sow fresh seed in autumn for the strongest spring flowering 🌱
Deadhead through spring to keep flowers coming ✂️
Let a final flush set seed so the colony persists 🌼
Pick a few flowers for salads; they are edible 🥗

Don't

Do not plant it in hot, dry, baked positions ❌
Do not let the soil dry out in summer; it fades quickly ❌
Do not feed heavily; rich soil gives leaf at the cost of flower ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Deadhead
Sow And Thin

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Self-sowing filler between paving and along path edgesMeadow and naturalised planting in cool moist groundContainers and window boxes for spring colour

Companion Plants

Forget-me-not Sweet alyssum Lady's mantle Cowslip Wild strawberry

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Johnny Jump Up questions

What zones can Johnny Jump Up grow in?

Johnny Jump Up is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Johnny Jump Up deer resistant?

Yes — Johnny Jump Up is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Johnny Jump Up bloom?

Johnny Jump Up typically blooms in spring through summer through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Johnny Jump Up need full sun?

Johnny Jump Up does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.