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Native Plant Database

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Pulsatilla patens (Eastern pasqueflower)
Sherman, Doug

Pulsatilla patens (L.) P. Mill.

Eastern pasqueflower, American Pasqueflower

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

USDA Symbol: PUPA5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

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

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit:

Bloom Information

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

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

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 either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Bibref 928 - 100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. Leyerle
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

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: 2012-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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