Johnny Jump-Up, Heartsease, Wild Pansy

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.
If they weren't so cute I'd call them weeds.
Forgot to add we had tons of them when I lived with my Nana in the Pocono Mts., Marshalls Creek, Stroudsburg area!

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.

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.

I bought plants three years ago, a year after I moved into my new house. The second year, violets popped up in places I didn't plant them. The fourth year, this year, they've multiplied.

They grow in part sun, in a bed where I have bulbs. After the bulbs have finished flowering, the violets start flowering and are great fillers.

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!)

~julie~

On Mar 28, 2005, kniphofia from Morpeth,
United Kingdom (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.

I love the variation in colors that you can get in a small patch of plants.

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 This little plant is dependable and vivacious in any setting and soil.

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.

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.

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.

On Jan 9, 2003, Baa wrote:

A variable short-lived plant native to Europe and naturalised elsewhere.

Has heart shaped to ovate basal leaves and oblong to ovate stem leaves which can be downy or hairless, toothed and mid to deep green. Bears small, brightly coloured flowers in blue, white and yellow with dark purple whiskers.

Flowers April to November

Loves a well-drained soil in sun to light shade. Needs shade in hot climates and the hottest parts of the day.

It has been used in the past for medicinal purposes but can be violently purgative.