Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor, Sp. Pl.: 935 (1753))

Family: Violaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 935 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Viola

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Europe to W. Siberia and NW. Iran

Description

Johnny-jump-up, known scientifically as Viola tricolor, is a vibrant and charming herbaceous plant that has captured the hearts of gardeners and botanists alike. It was first documented in the scientific community in 1753, as noted in the work “Species Plantarum,” and attributed to the celebrated botanist Carl Linnaeus.

This delightful plant belongs to the Violaceae family and boasts a native range that spans from Europe through Western Siberia to Northwestern Iran. Johnny-jump-up is renowned for its cheerful, tri-colored flowers, typically displaying a beautiful mix of purple, yellow, and white. These striking hues make the plant a popular choice for ornamental gardens, adding a splash of color that can brighten any setting.

In addition to its ornamental value, Viola tricolor holds historical significance in traditional medicine and folklore. Often referred to as heartsease, the plant was believed to possess various medicinal properties. Historically, it has been used to treat a range of ailments including respiratory conditions, skin problems, and even as a mild sedative.

The flowers of Johnny-jump-up are not only visually appealing but also attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden. They typically bloom from spring to early summer, providing a prolonged period of color and beauty.

Cultivating Viola tricolor is relatively straightforward, as it is a hardy plant that can thrive in various conditions. It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. This adaptability, along with its self-seeding nature, ensures that Johnny-jump-up can establish itself and return year after year with minimal care.

In conclusion, Johnny-jump-up is a delightful addition to any garden, celebrated for its vibrant flowers, historical significance, and ease of cultivation. Whether admired for its beauty or its place in medicinal history, Viola tricolor continues to be a plant of considerable interest and affection.

Common Names

Deu: echtes veilchen, wildes stiefmütterchen
Eng: european wild pansy, field pansy, heart’s-ease, johnny jumpup, johnny-jump-up, love-in-idleness, miniature pansy, pansy, pansy violet, wild pansy, heartsease, ladies’-delight, three-coloured violet
Dan: stedmoderblomst
Por: amor-perfeito
Nld: driekleurig viooltje
Swe: keto-orvokki, styvmorsviol
Fin: keto-orvokki
Fra: pensée, pensée sauvage, violette tricolore, pensée tricolore, violette pensée
Nno: stemorblom
Nob: stemorsblom
Sme: gieddeviola
Cym: blodeuyn wyneb mair, caru’n ofer, fioled dauwynebog, fioled fraith, fioled trilliw, llysiau’r drindod, llysiau’r drindod trilliw, llysieuyn y drindod, mam yng nghyfraith, ofer garu ofergaru gwyllt, trilliw
En: Johnny-jump-up, Field pansy, Heart’s-ease, Pansy, Miniature pansy, Love-in-idleness, European wild pansy, Wild pansy, Johnny jumpup, Heart’s ease, Herb trinity, PANSY VIOLET, Three-colored Violet, Heartsease, Ladies’-delight, Three-coloured violet, Banewort
Af: Gesiggie
Ar: فيولا الألوان الثلاثة
Hy: Եռագույն մանուշակ
Az: Üçrəng bənövşə
Ba: Ала миләүшә
Eu: Pentsamendu hirukolore
Be: Браткі
Bs: Maćuhica
Bg: Трицветна теменуга
Ca: Pensament silvestre, Pensament ver
Zh: San se jin, 三色堇
Kw: Losowen an drynsys
Hr: Maćuhica
Cs: Violka trojbarevná
Da: Almindelig Stedmoderblomst, Stedmoderblomst
Nl: Driekleurig viooltje
Et: Aaskannike
Fi: Keto-orvokki
Fr: Pensée, Pensée sauvage, Violette tricolore, Pensée tricolore, Violette pensée
Gl: Herba da trindade
Ka: Იაჟუჟუნა
De: Echtes Veilchen, Wildes Stiefmütterchen, Ackerveilchen, Dreifaltigkeitskraut, Feld Veilchen
He: סיגל ססגוני
Hu: Háromszínű árvácska
Is: Þrenningarfjóla
Ga: Goirmín searraigh
It: Erba Trinità, Suocera e Nuora, Viola del pensiero
Ja: Sanshiki-sumire
Kk: Şegirgül, Шегіргүл, شەگىرگۇل
Ko: 삼색제비꽃
Lt: Trispalvė našlaitė
Mk: Миризлива темјанушка
Gv: Blaa villish
Se: Gieddeviola
No: Stemorsblom
Nb: Stemorsblom
Nn: Stemorblom
Oc: Pensada salvatja, Violeta tricolòra
Os: Æртхуызæг
Fa: بنفشه آرامش
Pl: Bratek, Fiołek trójbarwny
Pt: Amor-perfeito
Pt-br: Amor-perfeito
Ro: Panseluță
Ru: Фиалка трёхцветная
Sr: Дан-ноћ
Sk: Fialka trojfarebná
Es: Pensamiento, Hierba de la Trinidad, Trinitaria
Sv: Styvmorsviol, Keto-orvokki
Zh-tw: 三色堇
Tg: Гули одамрӯ
Tt: Ала миләүшә
Zh-hant: 三色堇
Tr: Hercai menekşe
Uk: Фіалка триколірна
Cy: Trilliw, Blodeuyn Wyneb Mair, Caru’n Ofer, Fioled Dauwynebog, Fioled Fraith, Fioled Trilliw, Llysiau’r Drindod, Llysiau’r Drindod Trilliw, Llysieuyn y Drindod, Mam yng Nghyfraith, Ofer Garu Ofergaru Gwyllt

Synonyms

• Jacea tricolor ((L.) Opiz)
• Viola tricolor var. lacticolor (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor f. perobscura (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor subsp. erecta (Ehrh.)
• Viola tricolor var. distinctissima (C.G.Westerl.)
• Mnemion tricolor ((L.) Spach)
• Viola tricolor f. luteo-roseola (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor f. pulcherrima (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor f. luteo-coerulescens (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor f. purpurascens (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola versicolor (Salisb.)
• Viola tricolor var. major (Roth)
• Viola tricolor var. fulvo-striata (C.G.Westerl.)
• Viola tricolor var. albido-coerulescens (C.G.Westerl.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Krym (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Føroyar (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Sinai (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Nov 28, 2016 by psopho (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2019 by parramon marta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2018 by nikobon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 10, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 27, 2020 by Michael Moores (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2019 by colin colin weekes (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 3, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Francois ROBIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Francois ROBIN (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 19, 2020 by laurence ferrante (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 16, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2006 by Andrew Gagg (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2018 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 28, 2020 by Jenn (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2020 by Jenn (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 19, 2022 by Beate Liebold (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2021 by Aurore Buschmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by Jonker Annette (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2021 by Ayah Al-athwari (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:869428-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5331347)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Viola tricolor L.)

Specifications

Growth