Love-in-Idleness Viola tricolor
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la TRY-kull-lur
- Description
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Wild pansy (also called Johnny jump up) is an herbaceous annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial wildflower in the violet family (Violaceae). It is the parent plant to modern pansy hybrids and was introduced to North America from Europe. Wild pansy grows 3 to 10 inches in height and 3 to 12 inches in width. It is found in meadow-like rocky outcrops, dry and sloping meadows, banks, fields, gardens, wastelands, sand fields and seaside beaches. The epithet comes from the fact that its flowers have three colors.
Wild pansy grows best in full sun and in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. It blooms in spring to summer and is usually short-lived but freely reseeds. Its flowers can produce up to 50 seeds in each capsule, making it spread easily, although it is not particularly aggressive. Water this plant regularly but do not overwater.
The beautiful flowers are edible in small amounts but have little flavor. They are sometimes used as garnishes. They contain saponins and should not be consumed in quantity; however, they also contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals. Other medicinal uses are for the treatment of eczema and autoimmune diseases. Topical applications are used for cradle cap, diaper rash, weeping sores, itchy skin, varicose ulcers and ringworm.
Use this plant in containers, beds and borders. It is a wonderful addition to a butterfly, pollinator, cottage, fairy or edible garden. Or plant it in woodlands or meadows, beside ponds or along slopes or banks.
Quick ID Hints
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Flowers zygomorphic, 2-lipped, are tri-colored: violet, white and gold.
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Leaves are ovate to lanceolate; terminal lobe of stipule with 4 or more crenations on each side.
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Perennial with small “face-like” flowers in spring-summer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Travis Birdsell, County Extension Director and Extension Agent for Ashe County Extension
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Garden, Upcycled
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viola
- Species:
- tricolor
- Family:
- Violaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Traditional medicines and dyes
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Asia
- Distribution:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Flowers attract honeybees, bumblebees, long-tongued bees (Anaphora sp.), syrphid flies (Rhingia sp.), and butterflies
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Flowers are edible and have a slight minty flavor.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 3-valved capsule which ejects seeds when dry.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are solitary in axils and lateral, hoisted on long peduncles. They appear on aerial stems with more or less long internodes. The 5 sepals are never larger than the corolla. The 5 petals are often three colors and have purple stripes on them the bottom petal has a nectar spur. The typical flower has violet or purple upper petals, white lateral petals, and a yellow lower petal, but other color variations are possible.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaf blades are glaborus ¾-1½" long (not including their petioles). Two stipules clasp the stem and are often quite developed on the upper leaves and difficult to distinguish from true leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stem is hairless, sometimes downy and is branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- English Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
