Majestic Giants II Formula Mix
Viola x wittrockiana
Photo: Gogerr · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
3-4" blooms are more numerous and earlier than other varieties under the low-light and short-day conditions of winter and early spring. Also known as pansy, Johnny jump-up, European field pansy, heart's ease, and hybrid violet. Edible Flowers: Decorative and edible garnish 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
90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
1–10
USDA hardiness
Height
6-12 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Majestic Giants II Formula Mix in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Majestic Giants II Formula Mix · Zones 1–10
Growing Details
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 | — |
Succession Planting
Start seeds indoors 10-15 weeks before your last frost — that puts you at early February for most of zone 7 — and transplant out in April once nights stay reliably above freezing. Pansies are cool-season performers, and once daytime highs are consistently hitting 80°F, bloom quality drops fast and plants get leggy. For a second flush, start another round of seeds in late July to transplant in September; fall-planted Majestic Giants II often carries through to December with minimal fuss and is one of the few flowers still putting on a decent show when everything else has quit.
Complete Growing Guide
3-4" blooms are more numerous and earlier than other varieties under the low-light and short-day conditions of winter and early spring. Also known as pansy, Johnny jump-up, European field pansy, heart's ease, and hybrid violet. Edible Flowers: Decorative and edible garnish for salads and desserts with slight wintergreen flavor. While a popular choice for brightening up salad mix, the flowers are also good for candying. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Majestic Giants II Formula Mix is 90 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Grows Well in Containers, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers.
Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Wet. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Majestic Giants II Formula Mix reaches harvest at 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-4" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
During the summer cleistogamous flower buds that never open but that produce fertile seeds. Fruit capsules split open by way of three valves. The seeds are often transported by ants.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Capsule.
Harvest time: Summer
Edibility: Violet leaves are high in Vitamin C and can be used in salads or cooked. The flowers can be made into candies or jellies.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh pansies should be stored upright in a shallow vase with cool water in the refrigerator at 35-40°F to maintain petal firmness and color for 5-7 days. Change water daily. For preservation, pressing flowers between paper and books for 2-3 weeks creates long-lasting botanical specimens. Crystallizing or candying petals involves coating with egg white and superfine sugar, then air-drying for 24 hours before storing in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks. Alternatively, dry flowers in a low-temperature oven (150°F for 1-2 hours) or silica gel for craft and decorative use.
History & Origin
Majestic Giants II Formula Mix is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: The genus is worldwide.
Advantages
- +Produces 3-4 inch blooms earlier than competing varieties in winter
- +Thrives in low-light conditions typical of cold season growing
- +Generates numerous flowers for continuous cutting and arrangement
- +Edible flowers add unique wintergreen flavor to salads and desserts
- +Easy 90-day cultivation makes it ideal for beginner gardeners
Considerations
- -Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid or poorly ventilated conditions
- -Requires consistent moisture; prone to root rot in waterlogged soil
- -Flowers may fade quickly in intense summer heat and direct sun
Companion Plants
Marigolds are your most useful neighbor here — their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and above ground they act as a trap crop, pulling aphids off your pansies. Sweet Alyssum at the border brings in parasitic wasps (Braconidae and Chalcidoidea) that put a real dent in whitefly populations without any extra effort from you. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, Catmint is worth tucking in alongside the pansies too — it repels aphids and its low sprawl fits naturally next to plants topping out at 6-12 inches. Black Walnut is the one to plant nowhere near these; juglone leaches through the soil in a wide radius and is directly toxic to Viola x wittrockiana.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and pollinators, provide complementary height and texture
Sweet Alyssum
Ground cover that attracts beneficial insects and suppresses weeds
Zinnia
Attract butterflies and beneficial insects, provide continuous color
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees and butterflies
Catmint
Deters ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting pollinators
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, improves soil health
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants
Sunflowers
May compete aggressively for nutrients and space, can overshadow smaller flowers
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, slugs, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases
Powdery mildew, leaf spot, root rot in poorly drained soil
Troubleshooting Majestic Giants II Formula Mix
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing first on older foliage in late spring or fall
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — thrives in warm days with cool nights and poor airflow
- Plants spaced too close together at less than 6 inches apart, trapping humidity
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them
- 2.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution (1 tablespoon per gallon) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
- 3.Next planting, hold to the 6-8 inch spacing and avoid overhead watering in the evening
Ragged holes chewed in petals and lower leaves overnight, with a silvery slime trail visible in the morning
Likely Causes
- Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum or similar) — pansies are a preferred host, especially in cool, damp weather
- Mulch or debris piled directly against the stem base, giving slugs daytime cover
What to Do
- 1.Scatter iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the base of plants at dusk — it's safe around pets and won't harm beneficial insects
- 2.Pull mulch back 2-3 inches from the stem so slugs lose their hiding spots
- 3.Set a shallow dish of beer nearby at night to trap and drown them — low-tech, but it works
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do pansy flowers last once bloomed?▼
Can you grow Majestic Giants II Formula Mix pansies in containers?▼
Are pansies good for beginners?▼
What do pansy flowers taste like?▼
When should I plant Majestic Giants II Formula Mix pansies?▼
How do you candy pansy flowers for decorating?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.