Johnny Jump-Ups

Viola tricolor

A charming, early-flowering and short-lived perennial with petite, pansy-like blooms in shades of purple, yellow, and white. These grow between 4-12 inches tall, and love to flower in the cooler seasons. While the grow leggy in shade, I like to plant mine under shrubs where they sprawl and fill spaces with extra color from spring into winter. In full sun they'll remain more compact (and technically more healthy) but will often live shorter lives, succumbing to the heat of summer.

Click here for the full-detail Viola & Pansy Growing Guide

Use in the Landscape

Johnny jump-ups are a natural fit for garden edges, rock gardens, containers, and other small-scale plantings where their petite flowers can be appreciated up close. Their early flowering brings color to the garden at the beginning of the growing season, while their compact size makes them useful wherever a low-growing flower is desired. Plant them in full sun or partial shade.

Use as a Cut Flower

Johnny jump-ups are best appreciated for their delicate, colorful blooms rather than long stems. Their petite flowers can add a sweet, informal touch to small-scale floral designs and are also useful as edible flower garnishes. 

Growing Conditions

• Hardiness Zones: 3-9, 4-8 as a perennial

• Life Cycle: Short-lived perennial, hardy annual

• Light: Full sun to part shade

• Irrigation: Best with consistent moisture, but can be drought-tolerant

• Spacing: 4-6" for landscape, 2-4" for longer stems

• Height: 4-12"

• Spread: 4-12"

• Bloom Time: Heaviest in cool weather, in the spring and fall

• Fragrance: Fragrant flowers

Ongoing Care

Minimal care is required and they will often self-sow easily if allowed to go to seed. I choose not to deadhead mine and they continue to flower regardless.

Fun Facts

In the Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Nights Dream, the juice of the wild pansy (viola tricolor) was a magic potion that would cause people to fall in love with the first person they see upon waking. Maybe this is how I'll get my ducks to not run away in fear!

Availability

Most perennials are available as 3-packs of plugs, individual 4" pots, and gallon pots.

Nationwide Shipping: Available seasonally in spring (March–May) and fall (August–October). Orders ship on the next available Monday, allowing us to coordinate shipping with plant readiness and weather conditions.

Farm Stand Pickup & Local Delivery: Available year-round