Viola, Johnny Jump-Up, Heartsease 'Mixed Hybrids'
Viola tricolor
Family: | Violaceae (vy-oh-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Viola (vy-OH-la) (Info) |
Species: | tricolor (TRY-kull-lur) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Mixed Hybrids |

Category:
Annuals
Biennials
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Partial to Full Shade
Full Shade
Foliage:
Evergreen
Foliage Color:
Height:
under 6 in. (15 cm)
Spacing:
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 2b: to -42.7 °C (-45 °F)
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Coral/Apricot
Orange
Bright Yellow
Blue-Violet
Lavender
Medium Purple
White/Near White
Cream/Tan
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Blooms repeatedly
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Headland, Alabama
Juneau, Alaska
Phoenix, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Canoga Park, California
Clovis, California
Elk Grove, California
GARBERVILLE, California
Glen Avon, California(2 reports)
Merced, California
Pedley, California(2 reports)
Pleasant Hill, California
Rubidoux, California(2 reports)
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Sunnyslope, California(2 reports)
Wilmington, California
Clifton, Colorado
Creede, Colorado
Old Lyme, Connecticut
West Haven, Connecticut
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Ellendale, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Alford, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bradenton, Florida
Fort Meade, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Braselton, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
Monroe, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Woodstock, Georgia
Rexburg, Idaho
Aurora, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Mount Prospect, Illinois
Washington, Illinois
Brookville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Noblesville, Indiana
Kalona, Iowa
Yates Center, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Benton, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Hanson, Kentucky
Salvisa, Kentucky
Lake Charles, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Scott, Louisiana
Gardiner, Maine
Skowhegan, Maine
Brookeville, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Ellicott City, Maryland
Salisbury, Maryland
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Middlefield, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Bellaire, Michigan
Hopkins, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Madison, Mississippi
Marietta, Mississippi
Mathiston, Mississippi
Springfield, Missouri
Kalispell, Montana
Candia, New Hampshire
Englishtown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Brooklyn, New York
Chemung, New York
Elmira, New York
Hammondsport, New York
Port Washington, New York
West Fulton, New York
West Kill, New York
Burlington, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Thomasville, North Carolina
Warrensville, North Carolina
Belfield, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota
Cleveland, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Hamersville, Ohio
Mount Orab, Ohio
Edmond, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Turner, Oregon
Bath, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tioga, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Westerly, Rhode Island
Crossville, Tennessee
Oliver Springs, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Bellaire, Texas
Boerne, Texas
Brazoria, Texas
Christoval, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Liberty Hill, Texas
Paris, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
Salt Lake City, Utah
West Dummerston, Vermont
Leesburg, Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
Kalama, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Spokane, Washington(2 reports)
Black Earth, Wisconsin
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Merrimac, Wisconsin
Muscoda, Wisconsin
Porterfield, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jun 3, 2016, LanfrancoLeo from Harrisburg, PA wrote: Every year I buy just one packet of seeds, and it is enough to literally cover with flower 8 big pots. It is a must in my garden: bloom profusely (you can barely see the leaves because the number of flowers), for long time (mid April till end of June) and is an essential plant for bumblebee and other pollinators. On the top of this the plant seems to be much more cold and high temperature hardy than any other ornamental related species (pansy and other hybrid viola). The contrasting purple/yellow white bloom make an excellent addition to my garden. I saw indoor in the middle of December, transplant outdoor early April and enjoy their flower with bee and butterfly up the end of June.. |
Positive | On Feb 8, 2016, dragnit from Timmins, ON (Zone 2b) wrote: I have had this plant on my property for over 30 years from the original planting in a zone 2b. I look at them as friends and happy to see them every spring. They seem to migrate around my property and I never know where they will popup next. |
Neutral | On May 27, 2015, LadyMargellen from Burlington, NC wrote: I live in Burlington, NC. I've had heartsease in my herb garden for years now. My plants were from a local nurseryman and were in all shades of purples, whites, yellows, rusts and apricots. None of the standard tricolour. Yesterday, I found the seeds for the tricolour at our local Home Depot, so I will be interested in seeing their cheerful little faces soon. At the moment, I have them in large containers and hanging baskets where they have self-seeded for years, but some have seeded to the ground near the containers. These are happy little flowers, and seem content to live in sun and shade. Mine thrive in full sun. |
Neutral | On Sep 8, 2013, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Just got a bunch of seeds for this plant from a neighbor and I'm excited about seeing how they will grow next spring. |
Positive | On May 21, 2013, Diamonddiva from Indianapolis, IN wrote: I live in Indianapolis & transplanted these cute little flowers from my step-father's yard in northern Indiana. Within a day of transplanting they'd perked up, the flowers on them are still blooming & the buds on them are going strong. I've planted some in a shaded bed and some in direct sunlite, & hope to have them all thru my flower beds. It was great to find out the real name-my step-father calls them "jumping jacks", which was close! |
Negative | On Nov 5, 2012, kbaumle from Northwest, OH (Zone 5b) wrote: I must be the only person in the world who can't grow these. And it makes me sad because I love them. No clue what the problem is. I can grow just about everything else. Well, there are those Bells of Ireland that have pretty much eluded me, too... |
Positive | On Feb 28, 2012, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote: Such cute little faces on these. Self seeds freely. Blooms April-July in my garden. |
Positive | On Aug 15, 2011, herbella from Albuquerque, NM wrote: I love Johnny Jump-Up because it survives our arid climate and cold winters here in the High Desert of New Mexico. |
Positive | On Mar 24, 2011, JD1226 from Salisbury, MD wrote: After reading all the posts for little pretty flower called Johnny Jump-Ups, I am looking so forward to growing these in my flower beds. I hope they will grow good for me in the shade as well as the sune. |
Positive | On Jul 1, 2009, summerchill3 from Rexburg, ID wrote: This delicate flower blooms freely all over my garden from spring to fall. It does especially well in the most deeply shaded areas. I suppose I've spent a couple thousand dollars on all my perennials, some of which only lasted one season, but the wild pansy is free, requires no tending, seems to resist weeds and grass, and is among the most beautiful of all my plants. I live in a harsh, high-desert climate: snow, wind, rain, hail, drought . . . and this little pansy thrives. |
Positive | On May 4, 2009, Zone6aPA from Central, PA (Zone 6a) wrote: A very traditional / heirloom viola; a few old-fashioned flowers in the garden are good for the soul! |
Positive | On Mar 24, 2008, scottsmom from Point Phillips , PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Johnny Jump-ups have been every where I've ever lived for as long as I can remember (67 yrs.) Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Reading, and now Bath PA. They now are growing in scrappy shale type soil and it's the first time they seem to be getting leggy and straggly. They make a comeback from their centers if cut back but there are so many, it's too time consuming, I just rake them out, (shallow roots and all) and there are still enough seedlings to fill in. |
Positive | On Mar 24, 2008, valleyrimgirl from Brandon, MB (Zone 2b) wrote: This was my husband's favorite little flower when he was growing up and so, when we moved to our acreage almost 15 years ago, we had to get some from his mom for our garden. They are still happily reseeding and coming up here year after year. |
Positive | On Jul 25, 2007, broncbuster from Waxahachie, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: These little jewels are very easy to grow in my limestone alkaline soil. They bloom all spring and some last into summer. I encourage anyone who likes low growing, clean, colorful flowers to plant them. They reseed like crazy, but only directly around the plants. Any unwanted plants can be easily pulled and/or transplanted. |
Positive | On Mar 28, 2007, bmuller from Albuquerque, NM (Zone 7a) wrote: This is a reseeder but a welcome one. It looks pretty growing near or under almost any other plant. And it looks especially lovely en masse. |
Positive | On May 25, 2005, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: These cheerful little violets are welcome everywhere. They look great in mass plantings as was mentioned before. |
Positive | On May 12, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: These are the only "flat-faced" violas that I'm aware of that can survive our hot humid summers in NE Fla. All other typical pansies dry up in the heat around June and don't return. I finally got some Viola tricolor started from seed, though it took several attempts to get viable seed and plant them at just the right time of year in the right conditions. Now that they are growing on their own, I hope that they will spread prolifically. |
Positive | On May 11, 2005, julie88 from Muscoda, WI (Zone 4b) wrote: These have been my favorite flower for well over 50 years. I first noticed them growing in container on my grandmother's porch. (A 'trough' made from an old hot water heater.) The faces always made me smile as a child...and the never fail to live up to the name I learned to call them... "Johnny Jump-up" The are the first blooms in my garden in the spring...and the last ones in the fall. Sometimes they even flower in *December* after the first snow! (I live in Wisconsin, so that's saying a lot!) |
Positive | On Mar 29, 2005, RDT from Crossville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: I noticed no one from TN commented or added that they grow these lovelies. My neighbor's yard is covered with them and they look beautiful in mass. If they show up in a wrong area they are easy to remove. It is late March and they are blooming already. |
Positive | On Mar 28, 2005, kniphofia from (Zone 8a) wrote: A really delightful little plant. Yes they seed around but for me they are always welcome, they seem to fit in anywhere. I wouldn't be without them. |
Positive | On Nov 8, 2004, WillowWasp from Jones Creek, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: This little fellow goes on and on. It self seeds and so far I have not had to replant it no matter where I have lived. It has smiled for me and given me more surprises than I can count. I will always keep them around........ |
Positive | On Aug 8, 2004, Daylahmnas from Chester, MA (Zone 3b) wrote: Planted in shallow wood chip bed; the white and light blue/white mixed do not seem to be as prolific self-sowers as the tricolor purple. Although our area is zoned 4-5 in the Berkshire mountains of Western Mass. we have zone 3 winters occasionally and I can count on happy faces peeping up at me after I have removed two feet of snow during the month of February. When the snows melt in spring the violas are the only color in the gardens blooming non-stop through winter. The plants become a little leggy and dried during the month of August due to lack of water however they return to their former splendor in mid-september when all other flowers begin to wane. Collected seeds spread in other gardens have been successful. The deep purple viola blends well with garden sage for a bed border. ... read more |
Positive | On Jun 17, 2004, celtic_dolphin from Boone, NC (Zone 4b) wrote: Wonderful little viola! I started the plants from seed just two months ago, and it's already blooming! That's a record for this area, where we often get late spring cold snaps that slow down little seedlings. I can't wait to see how well it spreads in the garden, I hope to have a carpet of them blooming in a year or two. |
Positive | On Apr 2, 2004, ladyrowan from Garberville, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: These are nice little summer flowers. They seem to hold up much better than their much larger cousins. I planted the verigated, along with some solid purple, and solid yellow ones last year in a self-watering planter, and they grew so big they began to fall out of the pot! Even cutting them back doesn't seem to deter this flower. They just keep comming until Fall kicks in. A lovely little flower. I look forward to planting more this summer. |
Positive | On Feb 24, 2004, wnstarr from Puyallup, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: Edgewood, Washington |
Positive | On Feb 23, 2004, ButterflyDust from Riverside, CA wrote: Great little plant. Mine wasn't even affected by the 100 degree heat all summer in full sun out here in Southern California. Had lots of blooms all summer up until mid fall, and started reblooming again at the begining of January. I found a few seedling sprouting out of the ground at the begining of February. |
Positive | On Dec 29, 2003, vagardener from Springfield, VA wrote: This is a wonderful plant in an naturalized setting. It was growing in my lawn, in direct sunlight, when we lived in Connecticut. The plant added a nice bit of color to the grass and was a profuse self seeder. Still, the plant had proper manners and it was not invasive. Live and let live seems to be in its personality. It is readily available in our Virginia garden shops and I plan to test plant them next Spring. |
Positive | On Dec 28, 2003, anomina from Bradenton, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: it's now florida in december and my violas, all three colors, are still making happy faces. we've even had a slight freeze and the violas never blinked. a most gratifying plant, flowers freely, though small, doesn't seem to need much care. i'll add to this when the southern summer gets going. |
Positive | On Apr 22, 2003, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Self-sowing without being invasive and with the sweetest little flowers. |
Neutral | On Jan 9, 2003, Baa wrote: A variable short-lived plant native to Europe and naturalised elsewhere. |