Pansy is now a very popular flower, but its story only began in the early 1800s, when a couple of English nobles and their gardeners began crossing various species of viola to create a new flower with unique colour combinations and increased flower sizes. Their hard work paid off; by the mid-1800s, pansy became a worldwide favourite. The name ‘pansy’ is derived from the French word pensée, meaning ‘thought’; it was therefore chosen as a symbol of freethought. Whereas the classic pansy has petals that resemble a face, the ‘Clear Crystal Mix’ variety offers a blend of solid colours and is large flowered. It is brilliant for adding colour both in the garden and in the kitchen, as the entire flower is edible.