The pansy is a well known flower and it gets its name from the French word ‘pensee’ which means ‘thought’ or ‘to think’. This is because the flower has a striking resemblance to a human face and when, in the month of August, it sways back and forth, it seems to appear as if it is in deep thought.

This origin of its name has made it a symbol of Freethought and it has been used extensively in the literature of the American Secular Union as well. The pansy is a favourite of the Humanists also. A well-known group called ‘Freedom From Religion Foundation’ or the FFRF has used the symbol of the pansy in its lapel pins and literature.

Pansy also has a distinctive place in the art and literature of countries across the world. The flower had been immortalized in the paintings of Pierre-Joseph Redoute and that of Georgia O’Keefe. The mention of this flower can be seen in Shakespeare’s memorable plays ‘Midsummer Nights Dream’ and ‘Hamlet’. Pansy artwork can be found everywhere from needlework to ceramics and also in paintings. It is also the national flower of Osaka in Japan.

The colour of the flower varies from gold and orange to violet, purple and a bluish black. The plant is a pretty hardy one and grows well in sunny or partially sunny climates. The pansy is a biennial which has two life cycles with the flower appearing in the second cycle. The plant is found mostly in the northern parts of the world and is usually grown in urban surroundings. It is a flower of all seasons emitting a strong fragrance it has become a popular garden flower.