Common name: heartsease, wild pansy, love-in-idleness, call-me-to-you and many other names!
Botanical name: Viola tricolor
Botanical family: Violaceae
Cultivation
Although native to Europe, this plant has made its home in many other places. It self sows very easily and grows well in most conditions. It disappears in summer and reappear in autumn. It’s frost resistant.
It is biennial, meaning that it will die off on its second year of growth. It’s easy to propagate from seeds and it transplants well too.
How does it do here in Central Otago? It grows very well! It’s very hardy, tolerates cold temperature and frost. It flowers almost all year around in my garden, especially in winter, bringing lovely colours on bleak days.
Traditional medicinal uses
Its main affinity is with the skin (especially helpful to treat eczema), but it also has a strong affinity with the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and the urinary tract.
Heartsease has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It’s also an expectorant and antirheumatic. It has mild laxative and diuretic properties too.
How to use it?
Part used: aerial parts (leaves, stems and flowers).
It can be infused in oil for topical use, added fresh to salads (use the beautiful flowers only), used as a herbal tea, tinctured in alcohol or glycerine.
I use wild pansy in a balm made to help with eczema.
Mythology/Folklore
According to the Greek mythology, heartsease was admired by Eros (the god of love), then a white flower. Aphrodite became jealous and coloured the flower with three colours (white, yellow and purple).
Heartsease was used in love potion in the Middle Ages.
Heartsease also plays a part in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”.
References
Materia Medica of Western Herbs by Carole Fisher
A Modern Herbal by Mrs M. Grieve
55 plantes medicinales dans mon jardin by Virginie Peytavi
