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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Pulsatilla patens (Eastern pasqueflower)
Sherman, Doug

Pulsatilla patens

Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill.

Eastern Pasqueflower, American Pasqueflower

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PUPA5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

From a cluster of deeply cut basal leaves rises a silky-hairy stalk with a solitary, blue to purple or white flower above a circle of 3 unstalked leaves with linear segments.

The feathery, silky fruiting head is the distinctive feature of this western grassland species. The common name refers to the Eastertime flowering throughout much of its range.

 

From the Image Gallery

14 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CO , IA , ID , IL , KS , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , SD , TX , UT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NT , ON , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Nw. Canada east to n. Wisconsin and Michigan; south through Illinois and Missouri to Texas; west beyond our range.
Native Habitat: Grasslands.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Conditions Comments: Requires good drainage. May go dormant during drought.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Clump Division , Root Cuttings , Seeds
Description: Easy to start from seed. Divide or take root cuttings in spring or late fall.
Seed Collection: Seeds appear as wispy plumes in summer.
Seed Treatment: Seeds do not require cold stratification.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 61 - Alaska Wildflowers (2020)
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pulsatilla patens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pulsatilla patens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pulsatilla patens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-04
Research By: TWC Staff

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