Wild Pansy

Viola tricolor

The Wild Pansy was the original inspiration for the cultivated garden pansy and was historically used in folk medicine to treat respiratory ailments and skin conditions.

Scientific name

Viola tricolor

Taxonomy

Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Violaceae › Viola

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

grassland

Habitat

Open meadows, waste ground, acidic soils, and alpine pastures.

Diet

Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)

Range

Europe, Western Asia, North America

Size

15 to 30 centimeters in height

Lifespan

1-2 years (Annual or short-lived perennial)

Active

diurnal

Threats

Intensive agricultural expansion, herbicide application, and loss of traditional wildflower meadows.

Safe to approach?

This plant is harmless and non-toxic. The flowers are edible and often used as garnishes, but ensure the specimen has not been treated with chemical pesticides or herbicides before handling.

Viola tricolor , also known as Johnny Jump up (though this name is also applied to similar species such as the yellow pansy), heartsease , heart's ease , heart's delight , tickle-my-fancy , Jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me , come-and-cuddle-me , three faces in a hood , or love-in-idleness , is a common European wild flower, growing as an annual or short-lived perennial.

Photo: Kostas Zontanos, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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