Wild pansy
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With commons names like ‘heart’s ease’, ‘come-and-cuddle-me’ and ‘love-in-idleness’, it’s clear that Viola tricolor has long been linked with romance and passion.
The wild pansy, along with other members of the Viola genus, have been intertwined with love for thousands of years, and are ever mentioned in Shakespeare.
Outside of cultural importance, the wild pansy is one of the ancestors of the ever-popular garden pansy.
The wild pansy is also of interest to scientists as it contains a number of compounds which have potential as new medicinal therapies.
The flowers of the wild pansy are edible and are often used as garnishes on salads, or candied and used as decorations on cakes.
Plant description
The wild pansy is a small plant reaching up to 15cm tall on long, thin, branching stems. The leaves are oval or oblong shaped, with serrated edges. The purple flowers reach 2cm across, positioned on long growths from the stem called peduncles. They have five petals, which tend to be purple or blue, and can have an inner colour of yellow, white, blue, or a mixture of two of these.
Plant uses
Cultural
In the language of flowers, which assigns feelings and emotions to specific blooms, wild pansies represent 'thought'.
Wild pansy is linked to love and romance in both Greek and Roman mythology, and are symbols of Eros, Cupid and Aphrodite.
Food and drink
Wild pansy flowers are edible, and are used in salads and as dessert decorations.
Health
Extracts from wild pansies have been used in traditional medicines, including Ayurvedic and Iranian traditional medicines, to treat a range of diseases including respiratory diseases, skin conditions and cardiovascular problems.
There have been several studies investigating if chemicals in wild pansy could be used in treating cancers.
Did you know?
The wild pansy is mentioned in two Shakespeare plays, The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, under the name love-in-idleness.
Where in the world?
Open grasslands, farmland, riverbanks, and floodplains.
