What Is Pulsatilla Vulgaris?

About Pasque Flower

• This spring-blooming flower appears in shades of purple with a yellow center. Occasionally a white blossom will develop. The goblet-shaped flowers reach 2 to 4 inches across on top of thick stems, which show up before the leaves. As the flowers begin to fade, the 3- to 6-inch-long gray-green leaves sprout around the flower stem. Feathery puff ball seed heads, with long silky strands, follow the flowers.

Habitat

• Pasque flowers grow wild in Great Britain, western France, Sweden and east to the Ukraine. They tolerate temperatures down to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit in their natural habitat. Running across the pasque flower in the wild is rare because populations have suffered from over-collecting and habitat loss.

Propagation

• The seeds germinate best when they are sown in early summer. The sprouts appear in about two to three weeks. Once the seedlings are transplanted into small containers, grow the plants in a greenhouse until the following spring. Transplant the young perennials outside in a spot that gets full or part sun. The best soil for these plants drains quickly. Pasque flowers do not tolerate wet soil.

Warning

• Pasque flowers are slightly toxic, making people who eat any part of the plant feel ill. Handling the plants may cause skin irritation or rashes in people who are sensitive.