How to Grow Johnny Jump Ups

Johnny-jump-ups, also known as violets, violas or heartsease, are old-fashioned garden flowers that look like tiny, dainty pansies. They come in a range of colors, although purple, yellow or white are the most common. Some varieties are indigenous to North America, making them an ideal addition to a native wildflower garden. Starting Johnny-jump-ups from seed can be tricky, so it is recommended that you purchase transplants from a reputable garden center.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Johnny-jump-up transplants
• Trowel
• Compost
• Mulch

1. Assess the soil and light conditions of your yard. Johnny-jump-ups prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil. In the wild, Johnny-jump-ups are a woodland flower, and while they can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, they thrive best in part-sun to part-shade locations. Choose a location that resembles a sun-dappled forest floor.

2. Purchase your Johnny-jump-ups. Look for plants with strong stems and no wilted leaves. It can be tempting to buy plants that already have flowers on them, but keep in mind that these blossoms may not survive the stress of transplanting and that it may take a few weeks for the plant to recover and put out fresh flowers.

3. If necessary, harden the plants by placing them outside in a shady location for a few hours every day to get them used to life outside of a steamy greenhouse.

4. Plan to transplant your Johnny-jump-ups either early in the morning or very late in the afternoon, or on a cooler, overcast day, so that the plants aren't stressed by heat or intense sunlight.

5. Dig a hole for every plant. Johnny-jump-ups can be crowded together a bit more than many garden flowers, but do still allow 6 to 12 inches of space between each plant. The hole should be only slightly deeper than the root ball.

6. Remove the plants from their containers and gently loosen the soil, being careful not to break any of the roots.

7. Place the root ball in the hole and back fill with a mix of soil and compost. Try not to plant the Johnny-jump-up any deeper than it was originally planted.

8. Cover the soil with a thin layer of fine mulch to help keep down weeds and retain soil moisture.

9. Water thoroughly so that the soil is saturated but not waterlogged.