Flowers Seeds, Johnny Jump Up, Viola Yellow

Viola 'Yellow Blotch' — Johnny Jump-Up — is a delightful, free-flowering cool-season viola with cheerful yellow blooms accented by a distinctive black blotch. Extremely versatile and prolific, it performs beautifully in patio planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, rockeries, beds, and borders. In mild winter areas (Zones 6+), blooms will continue all fall, through winter, and into spring. In colder climates, enjoy large 3-inch blossoms from spring through summer. A charming biennial that fills every available space with color and character.

Plant Highlights

• Yellow blooms with a bold black blotch — classic Johnny Jump-Up character
• Extremely free-flowering; prolific and versatile cool-season performer
• Ideal for planters, window boxes, baskets, rockeries, beds, and borders
• In mild climates, blooms fall through spring; in cold climates, spring through summer
• Pairs beautifully with spring bulbs; excellent for inter-planting
• Deadhead to prolong flowering and maintain a tidy appearance

Growing Guide

Starting indoors: Sow 6–8 weeks before planting outdoors. Sow into trays or pots with quality starter mix; cover lightly with peat moss. Shade trays — darkness aids germination. Keep moist. Once seedlings emerge, move to a cool, bright area.

Harden off: Acclimate plants to outdoor conditions before planting out. For spring blooms, begin setting plants out up to a month before the last frost. For fall blooms, set out 3–4 weeks before the first hard frost so plants root well. Twelve weeks from seeding to first bloom.

Site and soil: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, moist soil. Feed periodically; deadhead spent blooms to maintain fresh production throughout the season.

Planting Specs

• Type: Biennial (often treated as annual)
• USDA Zones: 6–10 (overwinters in mild climates)
• Bloom season: Year-round in mild climates; spring–summer in cold climates
• Bloom color: Yellow with black blotch
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, moist
• Germ notes: Cover lightly with peat moss; shade for germination (darkness helps)
• Weeks to bloom: 12 from seed