Pansy

Pansy

Viola tricolor hortensis

Capricorn

Thoughtfulness, Winter

Pansies are colorful flowers grown as annuals in most regions. Pansies are cold hardy plants that can survive a frost.  This plant doesn't like intense summer heat which can inhibit flower production.  Many of the hundreds of types of pansies have heart shaped flowers and come in many colors including white, yellow, red, orange, purple, violet, brown and blue. Some are two colors. The flowers are formed with five petals and are fragrant.  Both the leaves and flowers are edible. Many varieties are biennials with a two year cycle; the first year flowers bloom and the following year(s) the stems become long and not as hardy.

Pansies are similar to violets - both belong to the genus Viola.  

Pansies like well-drained, rich soil full of organic matter and grow best in full sun to partial shade.  Plants spread up to 12 inches and grow to 9 inches in height. Pansies attract butterflies which bring in the energies of metamorphosis and personal transformation.

Pansy is from the French word pensée which means "thought." Pansies bring to us and bring out in us thoughtfulness.  What does this look like?  Are you thoughtful or are you seeing pansies everywhere as a reminder that thoughtfulness on your part would bring great joy to you and others around you?  Do you need to be thoughtful about where you are and where you are going?  You can use the energies pansy brings to us to aid in thinking through complex issues and to identify goals and to work through the steps you need to accomplish a goal. Remember to be gentle with yourself and that simple steps can solve a complex problem.

Some varieties have markings that look like the flowers have "faces." This prompts us to ask what face are we choosing to wear today? A face that looks pleased with the day will bring back people who are also pleased with the day.  As you wake each day, you have the option of deciding what face you'd like to wear. 

This flower also symbolizes those of us who love the cold, who thrive in cold weather and can be comfortable in less cold weather clothing than most others.  These are the people who tolerate summer but are happiest in fall and winter and the coolness it brings.