Do not plant pansies in May

Pansies are very popular because they produce a large number of flowers and do not require any special care. Did you know that pansies are edible and can be used to treat various health ailments? This includes support for cardiovascular health, skin problems and treatment of gynaecological diseases. Pansies have also been used to support treatment of digestive and urinary ailments. However, as with any remedy you should use caution when using pansies for health benefits. Wild varieties can be found in parks, meadows, pastures and along forests for example.

Origin of the plant

Pansy (Viola tricolor) is a very common plant. It comes from Japan and central China and thanks to its beauty, especially the colours, it has become popular all over the world. The name has been changed several times and you may find pansy in historical sources under different names.For example, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, pansy had a German name Stiefmutterchen, which translates as “little stepmother”. The botanical Latin name is Viola tricolor.

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Pansy in historical sources

Pansies appeared in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. The main character decorated her clothes and hairstyles with pansies. In ancient Greek and Roman mythologies, pansies were transformed into curious mortals who spied on the bathing goddess of love. To this day, pansies are the symbol of curiosity, surprise and fidelity in love. There are many legends about pansies.

In one Russian tale, it is said that a girl was forcibly separated from her lover. He married a rich bride, and his first lover suddenly died. Pansies grew on her grave. Each of the three colours represents a feeling of the poor girl she experienced while she was going through the ordeal: hope, surprise, and sadness.

In England, pansies are the flower of the Valentine’s Day.

Girls in Poland used to give pansies to their husbands and grooms before parting. They symbolized love and fidelity.

In France, people used to give a bouquet of pansies to someone who would be remembered for ever.

Planting pansies

You may grow pansies from seeds or green cuttings. If you plant pansies in May, they may still bloom in fall. However, blooming so late is not good as it weakens the plant and it will not survive the winter. Planting in fall is not advisable either, because pansies will not have enough time to prepare for winter. The ideal time is in July and they will bloom in spring or in February and they will bloom in autumn.. Pansies cannot stand in water for long and therefore you need to choose a permeable soil. However they need frequent watering (but excess water must drain away) and fertilization.

Source: https://burea-uinsurance.com/en/pansies-benefits-properties-calorie-content-useful-properties-and-harm/

Preview photo: Pixabay