Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pasque Flower
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Height
- 6-12 inches
- Width
- 6-12 inches
- Flower color
- Shades of deep purple to violet, occasionally white
- Foliage color
- Silvery-green, finely dissected, fern-like leaves with a soft, fuzzy texture
- Bloom time
- Early to mid-spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Medium; prefers well-draining soil and is drought-tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4-8
- Wildlife
- The fluffy seed heads are attractive to birds
About this plant
Pulsatilla vulgaris is a lovely herbaceous perennial native to Europe, forming a low, compact clump of finely dissected, silvery-green foliage in early spring. The leaves are deeply divided and covered in fine, silky hairs, giving them a soft, fuzzy appearance. As the weather warms, it produces stunning bell-shaped flowers in shades of deep purple to violet, and occasionally white, each with a cluster of golden yellow stamens. This resilient plant, often found in rocky or sandy grasslands, is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and features fluffy seed heads that persist into summer, adding interesting texture to the garden.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Rock Gardens
Companion plants
Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums
Design tip
The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.
