Johnny Jump Up Seed

The wild pansy also known as heartsease or Johnny Jump up, is a European wildflower that is a member of the violet family. This short-lived perennial or annual grows up to 15 cm tall and features distinctive tricolor blooms (purple, yellow, and white). It is another classic garden flower that you can find thriving just about anywhere. It really thrives in full sun to partial shade and slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Grown as an annual or short-lived perennial.

Historically it was utilized in traditional medicine to treat skin conditions and respiratory issues such as mild seborrheic skin diseases such as dandruff, itching, cradle cap and acne. Pansy is used for skin disorders that come from within. In traditional medicine, the plant is thought to be able to purify the blood or stimulate the metabolism. it is also a popular addition to edible floral garnishes. 

It’s super simple to propagate heartsease. You can either sow seeds indoors, direct-sow them outdoors, or transplant them from nursery or indoor starts. The best time to sow Johnny-jump-ups indoors is six to eight weeks before your area’s average last frost date.

Set the tray in a warm location – using a heat mat is ideal. You can also place plastic wrap or a humidity dome over the tray to help keep moisture in. This can help the seedlings germinate more quickly! Keep the soil moist until germination, which can take 7-10 days. Once germination happens, remove the cover and move the tray into an area that receives six to eight hours of sunlight every day. 

To direct sow seeds, find a location outdoors that receives six to eight hours of sunlight every day. If you live in Zones 6 through 9, though, your heartsease will do better with partial shade – preferably afternoon shade. If the sun is blazing down on it all day, the plants can wilt. If you’re planting seeds in containers, fill the pots with potting mix. For seeds sown directly into the ground, you’ll need to make sure the soil is rich and well-draining, ideally with a pH between 5.4 and 5.8.

Use your finger to make several quarter-inch divots at least six inches apart from one another and from surrounding plants. Johnny-jump-ups don’t mind rubbing shoulders, though, so you don’t need to worry too much about spacing. I often crowd two or three plants together in one container – even if they’re not all six inches apart. Drop two seeds into each divot and cover with soil. Water the plants with a spray bottle or mist them. 

When planting as a lawn alternative encourage fast growth by mulching the soil with compost before planting.

Deadhead spent flowers every week to encourage continued blooming and if you don't want them to self seed and spread.

If you plan to eat them the best time to harvest the flowers for eating is in the early morning or evening, before the heat of midday. Johnny-jump-up flowers taste best when they’re fresh, so we recommend harvesting them the same day you plan to eat them. Pick flowers at their peak bloom time – not after they’ve already begun to curl at the edges. Try to catch them right after they open if you can. Rinse them in cold water right before use.

Each pack contains approximately 50 seeds

Hardiness Zone 3-9

 

 

Disclaimer * The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease*