by Meg Lynch, Editor
Last year I planted Johnny-jumps-ups (Viola cornuta) in my front garden. This year, true to their common name, these annuals have reappeared, “jumping up” from seed last year’s plants dropped.
Or at least I thought their common name referred to their tendency to self-sow and reappear. Now I’m wondering if it has anything to do with their ability to climb. See, the plants in my garden this year have grown much taller than the 6 or 8 inches typical of Viola cornuta. They are using my perennial sneezeweed (Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’) as a ladder. The tallest bloom is about 16 inches high.
The sneezeweed won’t bloom for a couple more weeks, and neither will the nearby coreopsis and nasturtiums. The Johnny-jump-ups have been a great filler, with their purple and yellow blooms.
I didn’t plan on this – I wasn’t even sure the little violets would come up at all. So it’s a great example of the way plants can add to a garden’s design all on their own.
How have plants surprised you in your garden? Leave a comment below or chime in at our Forum.
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