Pansy at the Shakespeare Garden

Viola Tricolor

The pansy has a rich history in Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps most famously as one of Ophelia’s flowers in Hamlet. The name originates from the French pensée, meaning "thought," or penser, meaning "to think" or "to be pensive." The pansy of Shakespeare’s day likely resembled the smaller Johnny-Jump-Up, historically described as “a little violet of three colors: blue, white, and yellow.” Elizabethans adored pansies, as evidenced by the many names they gave it. In addition to Johnny-Jump-Up, it was known as the "Herb Trinity" for its three distinct petals, "Three-Faces-under-a-Hood," and "Fancy Flamey" for its striking, fire-like coloration. As a frequent gift between lovers, it also earned names like "Meet-Me-at-the-Garden-Gate," "Kiss-Me-Quick," and Shakespeare’s favorites, "Love-in-Idleness" and "Cupid’s Flower."

Shakespeare uses "Love-in-Idleness" in The Taming of the Shrew, where the term "idleness" implies “in vain” or “to no purpose.” In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he refers to it as "Cupid’s Flower," describing how Cupid’s arrow misses its mark and instead strikes a “little milk-white flower,” giving it magical powers as a love potion.

Botanically, the pansy is a tender perennial often grown as an annual. It is hardy in zones 7 through 11 and prefers full to partial sun with moist, well-drained soil. While it can withstand a light frost, it struggles in heat. Modern pansies come in a wide range of colors, including purple, white, yellow, blue, red, pink, and orange. Look for these colorful blooms in containers in the spring and fall.

Shakespeare references to pansy:

  • Ophelia speaking:

    There is pansies – that’s for thoughts.

  • Lucentio speaking:

    But see, while idly I stood looking on,

    I found the effect of love-in-idleness

  • Oberon speaking:

    Yet mark’d I where the bolt of Cupid fell:

             It fell upon a little western flower,

    Before milk-white, now purple with Love’s wound,

             And maidens call it love-in-idleness

    Fetch me that flower;the herb I show’d thee once;

             The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid

             Will make or man or woman madly dote

    Upon the next live creature that it sees.

  • Oberon speaking:

    Dian’s bud o’er cupid’s flower

    Hath such free and blessed power.