The pansy is a cool-season favourite known for its large, flat, velvety flowers marked with cheerful “faces.” In an enormous range of colors, it brings reliable, long-lasting color to spring and fall gardens and containers.
Pansy at a glance
- Botanical name: Viola × wittrockiana
- Family: Violaceae
- Bloom season: spring and fall (cool season)
- Symbolism: loving thoughts and remembrance
About the pansy
Pansies are hybrids bred from wild violas, prized for their big, colorful blooms and their tolerance of cool weather — they’ll even flower through mild winters. Their flowers are edible, making a pretty garnish. Violas, their smaller-flowered cousins, are often even hardier and more prolific.
Pansy meaning and symbolism
The pansy symbolizes loving thoughts and remembrance — the name comes from the French pensée, meaning “thought.” It has long been given as a token of “thinking of you.”
Types of pansy
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- Large-flowered pansies — the biggest, boldest faces
- Violas — smaller flowers, hardier and more prolific
- Panola — a cross between pansy and viola
- Johnny-jump-up — small tricolor blooms that self-seed
How to grow and care for pansy
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Plant in cool weather — spring or fall — in full sun to part shade
- Use rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Deadhead regularly to keep flowers coming
- Feed lightly for continuous bloom
- In mild climates, pansies flower right through winter
Pansy FAQs
Are pansies edible?
Yes. Pansy flowers are edible, with a mild, slightly grassy flavor, and are popular for decorating cakes, salads, and desserts.
What is the difference between a pansy and a viola?
Pansies have larger, flatter flowers with bold face markings, while violas have smaller blooms. Violas are often hardier and flower more prolifically, especially in heat and cold.
Are pansies annuals or perennials?
Pansies are technically short-lived perennials but are almost always grown as cool-season annuals for spring, fall, and winter color.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.