Heartsease

(Viola tricolor)

Heartsease (Viola tricolor)

Tom.kassumed assumed

CC BY-SA 2.5

Image By: Tom.kassumed assumed

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Estimated Native Range

Summary

Viola tricolor, commonly known as Heartsease, is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including meadows, grasslands, and forest clearings across Europe and Asia. It is a diminutive plant with a creeping and scrambling habit, typically reaching up to 15 cm (6 inches) in height. The flowers of Heartsease are notable for their charming tricolor pattern, with petals that can be purple, blue, yellow, or white, often in combinations of yellow and purple. The most sought-after form displays a tricolor pattern of yellow, white, and purple. These flowers, about 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches) in diameter, are solitary and lateral, borne on long peduncles from aerial stems with varying internode lengths. Heartsease blooms prolifically from April to September in the Northern Hemisphere, adding a splash of color over a long season. The plants are hermaphroditic and self-fertile, with pollination primarily by bees.

Heartsease is valued for its delightful flowers and is used in garden borders, rockeries, and as a ground cover. It is also popular for naturalistic plantings and wildflower gardens. The plant is easy to grow and maintain, thriving in full sun to part shade. It prefers well-drained soils but is adaptable to various moisture levels and drainage conditions. While it is not known for major diseases or pests, it can self-seed prolifically and may become invasive outside its native range. Gardeners should be cautious and check local regulations before planting Heartsease in areas where it is not native.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 0.5-1 feet
Width: 0.5-1 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Yellow, Purple, White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Groundcover, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Native to meadows, grasslands, forest clearings, and other open habitats across Europe and Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Wild Pansy, Johnny-Jump-Up, Field Pansy, Heart’s-Ease, Johnny Jumpup, Pansy, Miniature Pansy, Love-In-Idleness, European Wild Pansy, Ladies’-Delight

Scientific Names: , Viola tricolor, Viola bicolor, Viola calcarata, Viola vivariensis, Viola ruralis, Viola sabulosa, Viola sagotii, Viola meduanensis, Viola paillouxi

GBIF Accepted Name: Viola tricolor L.