Eastern Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla Patens)

Features and Characteristics

Pulsatilla patens, commonly called Pasque flower, is an early spring wildflower that features silky, hairy, fern-like foliage and erect, open bell-shaped, solitary, blue-violet (but occasionally yellow or white) flowers. Leafless, hairy flower stems emerge from the ground in spring (March-April in St. Louis), sometimes when patches of snow are still on the ground. Flowers bloom as the foliage begins to form. When the flowers appear, stems are typically only 4-5” tall. Stems elongate and foliage grows taller after bloom, with plants typically maturing to 8-12” tall. Deeply divided basal foliage is silvery-hairy. Flowers are followed by plume-like seedheads (reminiscent of some clematis and geum) that have good ornamental interest. This species and varieties thereof are native to prairies, sub-alpine meadows and dry rocky areas in northern Europe, Siberia and North America (Alaska south to Washington, New Mexico, Texas and Illinois). This is the one of the first spring flowers to bloom on the northern Great Plains and far northern tundra areas. Synonymous with Anemone patens.

Genus name comes from Latin meaning sway as the flowers sway in the wind.

Specific epithet means spreading.

Pasque comes from Old French for Easter in reference to the spring bloom time. Other descriptive regional common names applied to this species include prairie smoke, windflower, gosling flower, anemone, sandflower and prairie crocus. It is the state flower of South Dakota.