With their delicate, smiling faces turned skyward, pansies have charmed gardeners for over two centuries. These colorful hybrids encapsulate both the vibrancy of new life in spring and the bittersweet beauty of shorter winter days. Let’s learn about the origins, meanings, and care for this enduring yet endearing flower that has won hearts and minds the world over since its original cultivation in 19th-century Europe. There’s so much to explore!
Table of Contents
The Origins of the Pansy Flower
The pansy flower’s meaning has a long and interesting history. This pretty flower originated as a hybrid of the viola flower in Europe in the 1800s. People liked the viola but wanted a flower that was bigger and came in more color variations. European horticulturists and botanists worked to crossbreed different viola species. Their experiments resulted in the first pansies. The name “pansy” comes from the French word pensée, meaning “thought” or “remembrance.” This name references how the pansy flower’s face-like appearance looks like it is contemplating something.
The Meaning of Pansy Flowers
In the centuries after pansies were first bred, people assigned different meanings to them. The pansy flower symbolism is rich and varied. One of the most common pansy flower meanings is connected to thoughtfulness and free thinking. This comes from their French origin name pensée. For those born in certain months, the pansy flower birth month connection adds special significance. Specific pansy colors also take on additional meanings:
- The yellow pansy flower represents happiness, optimism, and good cheer. They can indicate thoughts of sunshine even on cloudy days.
- The white pansy flower evokes purity, innocence, and making wishes or dreams. They suggest holding something delicately and gently in one’s thoughts.
- The purple pansy flower represents free thinking and exploring ideas outside the mainstream. They can indicate contemplating independence or what it means to be yourself. Similarly, the blue pansy flower adds depth to any garden display.
Growing and Caring for Pansy Plants
Many gardeners enjoy growing pansies for their beauty and ability to bloom in cool weather. The pansy flowers’ winter hardiness makes them especially valuable. Here are some pansy flower care basics for successfully cultivating pansy plants:
Growing pansy flowers in pots or gardens requires attention to certain details. Prepare garden beds or containers with rich, well-drained soil before sowing seeds or placing young plants outside. Space the pansies 6-9 inches apart to prevent crowding.
Creating beautiful pansy flower arrangements and pansy flower bouquet displays starts with proper care. Water pansy plants regularly at their base, taking care not to get the leaves and petals wet. Allow the soil to almost dry out between thorough waterings.
Whether you’re displaying them in a pansy flower basket or garden bed, proper fertilization is key. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. The pink pansy flower and orange pansy flower varieties especially benefit from regular feeding.
Uses and Benefits of Pansy Flowers
Beyond ornamental appeal, pansy flowers also provide practical uses.
Culinary Use – Pansies have edible flowers that can dress up salads, desserts, and drinks with their colorful petals. The flowers taste mildly grassy, minty, and sweet.
Herbal Medicine – Historically, herbalists made a pansy tea or tincture to treat skin diseases and respiratory illnesses. Modern research suggests that pansies have anti-inflammatory properties. However, consult an expert before attempting to make medicinal preparations at home.
Pansy Flower Facts
Here are some additional interesting details about this charming cool-weather flower:
- There are over 400 cultivated varieties of pansies available. They come in single, double, or ruffled flower forms.
- Pansies are a type of viola flower, so they are related to violets as well.
- In Christianity, pansies represent the Trinity, as their three-lobed flower shape resembles the Holy Trinity symbol.
- The red pansy flower adds striking color to any setting. Pansy flower colors range dramatically, making them perfect for various garden designs. It is common for Capricorn zodiac flower sign people to feel a special connection to these blooms.
Send flowers with FREE delivery in the USA and make someone’s day.
Thanks to online flower delivery services like SnapBlooms, you can now enjoy pansies year-round, whether growing them yourself or receiving them as gifts. Whether you’re looking to send flowers online or grow them yourself, pansies offer remarkable versatility – order from SnapBlooms!
