Johnny Jump Up Viola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' (Sorbet Series)
ABOUT
Viola 'Sorbett Yellow Delight' is recognized for its striking flowers that bring a cheerful burst of color, typically during cooler gardening seasons. The blooms of this plant feature a bright yellow hue, often with a delicate, velvet-like texture. The flowers generally display a face-like pattern in a slightly darker shade, adding depth and intrigue to the appearance. Each bloom boasts five rounded petals that are often slightly ruffled or overlapping, with a lower petal that is slightly larger and serves as a landing platform for pollinators. The foliage of the Viola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' is lush, and the leaves have a tender, soft green color. Characterized by their heart-shaped outline, the leaves provide an attractive background that enhances the visual appeal of the flowers. The plant has a compact and mounding growth habit, which allows it to form a neat and tidy cluster of leaves and blooms. This viola's ability to bloom over a long period makes it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add lasting color to their flower beds, containers, or window boxes. Its bright yellow flowers bring a spot of sunshine to any setting, and it is known for its charming and delicate appearance. The 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' variety of viola adds a joyful touch to the spaces it inhabits, resonating with the themes of freshness and vivacity that are so often associated with springtime gardens.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Violaceae
Synonyms
Johnny Jump Up, Horned Violet, Horned Pansy
Common names
Viola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight'
ToxicityTo humans
Pansies are generally considered non-toxic to humans. They are often used in culinary applications, such as garnishing and in salads. However, it's always good practice to consume plants that have been positively identified and are free from pesticides and other chemicals. If an individual has a specific allergy or sensitivity, they might experience an adverse reaction from handling or ingesting pansies, but this is not common.
To pets
Pansies are generally considered non-toxic to pets as well, including both cats and dogs. They are not known to contain any substances that are harmful to animals when ingested in small, typical amounts. Nonetheless, if a pet consumes a large amount of any plant, including pansies, there could be a risk of gastrointestinal upset simply due to the ingestion of non-food material. If any signs of illness are observed after your pet consumes pansies, it's advisable to consult with a veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Yellow
Height
6-8 inches (15-20 cm)
Spread
6-8 inches (15-20 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
5-9
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Year-Round Interest - Viola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' offers colorful blooms in cooler seasons when many other plants are dormant.
- Easy to Care For - This viola variety is low maintenance, suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Attracts Pollinators - The flowers attract and provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
- Versatile Planting - Perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and as a ground cover in flower beds.
- Long Blooming Period - Often flowers from fall through to spring, providing extended periods of color.
- Durable - This plant exhibits good tolerance to both cold and wet conditions, making it resilient in various climates.
- Edible Flowers - The blooms are edible and can be used to garnish salads, desserts, and drinks.
- Dense Growth - Helps suppress weeds in garden beds due to its close-growing habit.
- Breeding Perfection - The Sorbet series are known for their uniform growth and flowering habit.
- Color Variety - Offers a vibrant yellow color, which can be effectively combined with other plants for striking visual contrast.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Artistic Inspiration: The vibrant yellow hue of pansies can be a source of inspiration for artists and can be used as a subject for painting or photography, capturing the delicate textures and colors.
- Natural Fabric Dyes: The petals of pansies can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, providing a range of yellow to green hues depending on the mordants used.
- Floral Arrangements: Pansies can be incorporated into floral arrangements for special events, adding bright pops of color and unique texture to bouquets and centerpieces.
- Culinary Garnish: The edible flowers of pansies can be used to add a splash of color and a mild, fresh flavor to salads, desserts, and cocktails.
- Eco-friendly Confetti: Dried pansy petals can be used as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper confetti at celebrations, as they are biodegradable and add a burst of color.
- Craft Projects: Pressed pansy flowers can be used in a variety of crafts, such as making bookmarks, greeting cards, or decoupage projects.
- Edible Ice Cubes: Freezing pansy flowers in ice cubes can create a visually appealing addition to drinks, perfect for summer parties or special occasions.
- Homemade Potpourri: Dried pansy petals can be mixed with other natural ingredients to create homemade potpourri, offering a pleasant fragrance to any room.
- Decorative Candle Embeds: Pansy flowers can be carefully placed into candles during the making process to create beautiful, decorative elements within the wax.
- Botanical Jewelry: The flowers of pansies can be preserved in resin to create unique and colorful pieces of jewelry such as pendants, earrings, or bracelets.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Pansy is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Pansy is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Innocence: The viola typically symbolizes innocence due to its delicate and unassuming appearance.
- Modesty: The small size of the viola's flowers has come to represent modesty and humility in the language of flowers.
- Love: Violas are often associated with love and affection, especially when given as a gift.
- Remembrance: In the Victorian language of flowers, violas conveyed the sentiment of remembrance and contemplation.
- Spiritual Wisdom: Certain cultures believe violas represent a deep spiritual wisdom, perhaps stemming from their multi-layered petals that seem to hide secrets within.
WaterPansies, such as the 'Sorbet Yellow Delight', require regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. During active growth, particularly in dry conditions, water them thoroughly once or twice a week. When watering, aim to apply about 1 gallon of water per square foot every week, adjusting for rainfall and temperature. During the hotter months, you may need to water more frequently to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Ensure that the plant has good drainage to avoid soggy soil, which can lead to root rot.
LightPansies prefer bright, indirect sunlight and should be placed in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. The ideal spot for 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' pansies would be an eastern-facing garden where the gentle morning sun can encourage growth without the harshness of the midday heat. If grown indoors, a window with filtered light can also be suitable, as long as direct sunlight, which can scorch their leaves, is avoided.
TemperaturePansies such as 'Sorbet Yellow Delight' thrive in cooler temperatures and can generally withstand frost. They perform best when daytime temperatures are between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive dips down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, prolonged temperatures over 75 degrees Fahrenheit can cause the plant to become leggy and could reduce flowering.
PruningPansies, including 'Sorbet Yellow Delight', should be deadheaded regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. Snipping off spent flowers prevents the plant from setting seed, which encourages the production of new blooms. Additionally, lightly prune or pinch back leggy stems in early summer to maintain a bushy, compact growth habit. Pruning is best done in the cooler part of the day, either in the morning or late afternoon.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe best soil mix for Johnny Jump Up is well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Incorporate compost and peat moss to enhance texture and fertility.
RepottingJohnny Jump Ups should be repotted every 1-2 years, or when they outgrow their current container, to refresh the soil and provide room for growth.
Humidity & MistingJohnny Jump Ups prefer average room humidity. They can tolerate some variation but avoid extremely high humidity environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and maintain moist soil for healthy indoor Johnny Jump Ups.
Outdoor
In partial shade to full sun, ensure moist, well-draining soil for thriving outdoor Johnny Jump Ups.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycleViola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight', commonly known as pansy, begins its life as a seed, which upon planting in a cool weather germinates within a span of 1-3 weeks. The seedling stage follows, with the emergence of true leaves after the initial cotyledons, and pansies can then be gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions. During the vegetative stage, the plant develops a compact, bushy growth habit and begins to produce leaves and roots robustly, preparing for the onset of flowering. The pansy enters the reproductive stage when temperatures are cool but not freezing, typically in spring or fall, blossoming with bright yellow flowers featuring a delightful blotch or "face". After the flowering period, pansies can set seed if the flowers are pollinated, either by insects or self-pollination, leading to the development of seed pods. Eventually, the plant will experience senescence and die after the seeds mature and are dispersed, although some gardening practices can extend its season by deadheading spent flowers to stimulate further blooming.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Summer
The Viola 'Sorbet Yellow Delight', commonly known as a type of pansy, is typically propagated by seed. The ideal time to start seeds is late winter to early spring, ensuring that the seedlings can be transplanted after the danger of frost has passed. To propagate pansies by seed, first, select a well-draining seed-starting mix and moisten it before sowing the seeds. Then, lightly sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil and cover them with a thin layer, as they require darkness to germinate. The soil temperature should be maintained between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 18 to 21 degrees Celsius), and the seeds usually germinate within 10 to 20 days. Once seedlings have developed true leaves, they can be carefully transplanted to individual pots and later moved to garden beds or containers.
