Johnny Jump up, heartsease, tickle-my-fancy, come-and-cuddle-me, wild pansy, love-in-idleness... How many names does this flower has?
The chaotic rhythm of the dailybasis in Oporto makes us not noticing the beautiful flower beds on Avenida dos Aliados, the immense gardens in the heart of the city, or the flowered balconies of the Ribeira houses. But if there is something that does not escape the hearts of those who pass by is the love we feel for the city. And there is no better flower that gathers all this in just half a dozen petals: the tricolor viola. Well, perhaps you do not recognize her by this name, but if we tell you about the pansy or the heartsease, is it more familiar?
The pansy is a small plant that usually does not exceed 30 cm in height, producing flowers that on average are about 6 cm in diameter. The flowers of the tricolor viola can be purple, blue, yellow or white and are polonized by our friendly bees.
Currently there are a large number of cultivars, with flowers of many colors that form a large number of patterns, usually combining three colors. In places of mild climate it is considered easy to cultivate, being able to be cultivated in pots or in the gardens, alone or in groups. That's why we see raised beds of heartseases, which can color the city streets in a unique way.
Typically, tricolor violas bloom in autumn and spring and can last in winter if the weather stays mild. Its flowering usually ceases in the hot summer months.
In a more historical perspective, it is known that the Greeks and Chinese used the violas as medicine and the Celts and Romans made with them perfumes. Pansies were even used as the elixir of love in England, which is believed to have inspired Shakespeare in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In this play, a magical flower would have been rubbed in Titania's eyes while she is asleep. When she woke up, she fell in love with the first person she saw.
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Written by: Júlia Aguiar
Photos by: Júlia Aguiar
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