Johnny jump ups
Few plants work harder to cheer us in the cooler months than pansies and their cousins, the violas (when pronouncing, think violet, not small violin). Violas, sometimes called miniature pansies or Johnny jump ups, are particularly vigorous. They are more cold-tolerant than the large-flowered pansy and generally have a longer blooming season. They can also take more shade. Though violas have smaller flowers than pansies, the blooms are more profuse, and the plants remain tidier with less deadheading. The traditional wild Johnny jump up has the familiar purple, yellow and white flower, but plant breeders continue to dazzle us with luscious color combinations. ‘Sorbet Coconut Swirl’ and ‘Sorbet Lemon Swirl’ look good enough to eat (and viola blossoms are edible, by the way). If the selection of bedding plants is limited in your area, you might try growing violas from seed in pots or flats. A large selection is available from www.2bseeds.com and www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com. For a real head-turner, try the iridescent ‘Velour Blue Bronze’.