Johnny Jump Up plants are popular viola. They are called “old-fashioned” favorites. Perennial Johnny Jump Flowers are often grown as an annual, especially in northern parts of the country. The plants are native to Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains. Growing Johnny Jump Up flowers is easy. You may find them growing in the wild in fields and along the road.
Small plants produce a wealth of dainty, fragrant blooms. The first blooms appear early in the season.
Johnny Jump Up plants are popular, easy, and fun to grow. Fill an area or entire bed with them for a striking effect! They also are great in windowsills and containers.
Flower Colors: Blue, orange, purple, yellow, and white blooms. And, there are several bicolors, too.
Flowers Bloom: Spring through Fall
Plant height: 7″ – 10″
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0.
Hardiness Zone: 2 – 10.
Toxicity: Not if consumed in small quantities.
Deer Resistant?: Yes.
Native To: Europe and parts of Asia.
Plant Type: Perennial. Often grown as an annual in colder northern areas.
Botanical Name: Viola Tricolor
Other Names: Field Pansy, Heartsease, Heart’s Delight, Love-in-Idleness, Tickle My Fancy, and Wild Pansy
YES!!
The flowers are edible, but only in small quantities. Use the flowers as a topper for cakes ad other baked goods.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or ill, consult your doctor before eating the flowers of this plant. Also, do not give it to small children.
There are several medicinal uses for Johnny Jump Up plants. The plant contains antimicrobial properties.
Here are some of them:
Caution: We recommend you do not make a home remedy yourself from this plant unless you are trained to do so by a qualified professional.
Grow Johnny Jump Up plants in full, direct sunlight in most areas. However, in warmer areas, we recommend partial shade.
With too little sunlight, the pants may get leggy. Pinch back the growing tips to encourage, new, healthier growth.
Johnny Jump Ups are grown from seeds. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. Sow the seeds in late fall or early spring. For spring blooms, start your Johnny Jump Up plants in pots and containers indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost.
Sow seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/8″ soil. Water thoroughly once. They germinate slowly. We recommend using a heated germination mat.
Transplant Johnny Jump Up plants into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Space the plants 6″ apart. They will tolerate a little crowding. If you are creating a flower bed, you may want to create a pattern or color scheme before planting. Or, use mixed varieties.
Days to Germination: 14 – 21 days.
Johnny Jump Up prefers cool to warm climates and they will wilt a bit in mid-summer heat. Select a planting site where they will receive full sunlight. However, in warm weather areas, they will benefit from partial afternoon shade.
The plants tolerate a variety of soils. Add a general-purpose fertilizer when planting them, then once a month after that.
Once your Johnny Jump Up plants are established, they should grow well, even if left unattended.
Keep soil should be moist, but not wet. Established plants are somewhat drought tolerant. However, water them during dry periods, once or twice per week. Keep them well weeded.
Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.
These hardy plants will need little or no pruning. Remove any dead or broken leaves and branches.
Extend the blooming period, by deadheading, spent blooms. After flowers have died, pinch off the dead flower heads to promote new blooms. Also, deadheading helps to keep a neat and tidy appearance. Of course, if you are going to save seeds for next year, keep a few spent flowers on the plant until the dead bloom has completely dried.
You will love growing cheerful Johnny Jump Up plants in windowsill planters or in a container on your balcony or deck. They look great growing in lush masses.
Like any container-grown plant, they need a little extra care and attention. Here’s how:
Important Garden Tip: If you go away from home for a few days. ask a neighbor or a family member to check on your Johnny Jump Up plants and water them, as needed.
Johnny Jump Up plants can have problems with aphids, spider mites, and slugs. Use insecticides, insect repellents, or slug and snail baits, as appropriate.
Powdery mildew and leaf spot can occur. However, disease problems are infrequent. But, if a disease problem arises, treat it early with fungicide.
Also, Black root rot is a problem in wet and soggy soils.
As previously mentioned, most gardeners in northern areas of the country grow perennial Johnny Jump Up plants as an annual. While they are considered a cold-hardy plant, freezes can kill them.
In many areas where they can survive outdoors in the winter, the plants go dormant. They do not need fertilizer during the dormancy period. Protect the roots from hard freezes by applying a thick layer of mulch around the plants.
Of course, you can also dig them up and repot them into flowerpots. Then, bring them indoors for the winter months.
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Also see Violas.
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