Heirloom

Helen Mount

Viola tricolor

Photo: AnRo0002 · Wikimedia Commons · (CC0)

1-2" tricolor flowers in purple, yellow, and white. May reseed. Also known as pansy, heart's ease, Johnny jump-up, and European field pansy. Perennial in Zones 4-9. Edible Flowers: Abundant blooms make dainty garnishes for salads and desserts with slight wintergreen flavor. While a popular choice for brightening up salad mix, the flowers are also good for candying.

Harvest

60-70d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-10 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Helen Mount in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

Helen Mount · Zones 2–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-drained loam, slightly acidic

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonPerennial

FlavorDelicate, subtle wintergreen flavor with mild, refreshing botanical notes.

ColorPurple, yellow, and white tricolor

Size1-2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Complete Growing Guide

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: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Moist. Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

3-valved capsule which ejects seeds when dry.

Type: Capsule.

Edibility: Flowers are edible and have a slight minty flavor.

Storage & Preservation

Helen Mount pansies are best stored fresh in the refrigerator at 35-40°F with moderate humidity in a perforated container or plastic bag for 3-5 days. For longer preservation, crystallize or candy the petals by brushing with egg white and dusting with superfine sugar, then air-dry completely and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, freeze blooms in ice cubes with water for decorative additions to beverages, lasting several months. Dried flowers can be pressed between parchment paper for 1-2 weeks, then stored flat in an airtight container for 6+ months for craft or culinary decoration.

History & Origin

Helen Mount is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe and Asia

Advantages

+Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators, Specialized Bees
+Edible: Flowers are edible and have a slight minty flavor.
+Fast-growing
+Low maintenance

Companion Plants

Marigolds and Calendula are the most practical companions here — both deter aphids through scent and pull in parasitic wasps that keep soft-bodied pest populations from building up. Sweet Alyssum is worth tucking in at the border too; it tops out around 3–4 inches and draws hoverflies whose larvae eat aphids before you ever notice them. Nasturtiums make a decent sacrificial trap crop: aphids pile onto them first, which buys Helen Mount some breathing room during the spring flush. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, a fall planting of Helen Mount mixed with Calendula will carry color reliably through November as long as you deadhead both.

Black Walnut trees are the companion to avoid outright — juglone, a compound that leaches from walnut roots and decomposing leaf litter, is toxic to Viola tricolor and will stunt or kill plants inside the drip line. Fennel causes a different problem: root exudates suppress germination and early growth in a wide range of neighboring plants, and violas are not an exception. Neither is worth working around.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids, attract beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators

Basil

Repels thrips, aphids, and flies while attracting beneficial pollinators

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts hover flies and parasitic wasps that control aphids

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and create habitat for natural predators

Calendula

Repel aphids and whiteflies, attract beneficial insects

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill zinnias

Fennel

Produces allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of nearby flowering plants

Large Sunflowers

Create excessive shade and compete aggressively for nutrients and water

Troubleshooting Helen Mount

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Gray, fuzzy coating on stems and leaves, plants collapsing at the crown during cool, wet weather

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives in humid, stagnant air and temps between 55–75°F
Overcrowded planting that prevents airflow between plants

What to Do

1.Remove and bag all affected plant material — don't compost it
2.Space plants at the full 8-inch interval and thin any crowded spots immediately
3.Water at the base only, in the morning, so foliage dries before nightfall

Tiny, irregular holes chewed across petals and leaves, often worse after rain

Likely Causes

Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum and related species) — active at night and during overcast days, especially in mulched or shaded beds
Earwigs, which are also nocturnal and feed similarly

What to Do

1.Set out beer traps at soil level — check and empty them every morning
2.Apply diatomaceous earth around the base of plants after a dry spell, and reapply after rain
3.Pull mulch back a few inches from the crown to reduce slug harborage

Plants stop flowering, stems stretch and get leggy, leaves look healthy but bloom count drops to near zero

Likely Causes

Heat stress — Helen Mount pansy types typically shut down flowering once daytime highs push past 75–80°F
Failure to deadhead, which signals the plant that seed set is complete

What to Do

1.Deadhead spent blooms every 3–5 days to extend the flowering window as long as possible
2.Cut leggy stems back by about one-third to encourage a flush of new growth before summer heat finishes them off
3.Accept that this is a cool-season flower and plan to replace with a warm-season annual once temps are consistently above 80°F

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Helen Mount pansy flowers last once picked?▼

Helen Mount pansy flowers typically last 3-5 days when stored in the refrigerator at 35-40°F. For optimal freshness and texture when using as garnish, use the same day of harvest if possible. The blooms are delicate and best enjoyed fresh, though candied petals and frozen blooms offer extended storage options for culinary applications.

Can you grow Helen Mount pansies in containers?▼

Yes, Helen Mount pansies grow well in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure pots have drainage holes. Space plants 6-8 inches apart in containers. They prefer full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours daily) and benefit from regular watering to keep soil consistently moist. Container growing makes it convenient to harvest abundant blooms for garnishing throughout the season.

Is Helen Mount a good pansy variety for beginners?▼

Absolutely. Helen Mount is classified as an easy-to-grow variety, making it ideal for beginners. It's an heirloom pansy that's hardy in Zones 4-9 and tolerates a range of conditions with minimal care. The plants readily reseed themselves, and abundant flower production means continuous blooms for harvesting. No special expertise is required for successful cultivation.

When should I plant Helen Mount pansy seeds?▼

Start Helen Mount seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow after the last frost date. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days. For fall-winter blooms in milder climates, sow in late summer. The plants prefer cool temperatures and will flower prolifically in spring and fall, potentially year-round in Zones 4-9 when conditions are favorable.

What does Helen Mount pansy taste like?▼

Helen Mount pansies have a slight wintergreen flavor with delicate, subtle undertones. The taste is mild and pleasant, making them excellent for garnishing salads, desserts, and beverages without overpowering other flavors. The crisp, refreshing quality enhances presentation while adding a unique botanical note to dishes.

How do you use Helen Mount pansies in cooking?▼

Helen Mount pansies are versatile edible flowers perfect for garnishing salads, soups, and desserts. Candy or crystallize the petals for decorating cakes and pastries. Freeze individual blooms or petals in ice cubes for elegant beverages. Use fresh petals to brighten salad mixes with both visual appeal and subtle wintergreen flavor. Ensure flowers were grown organically without pesticides for culinary use.