Native Plants
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.
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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Blue , PurpleBloom 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 , WYCanada: 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: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Conditions Comments: Requires good drainage. May go dormant during drought.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesPropagation
Propagation Material: Clump Division , Root Cuttings , SeedsDescription: 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
Bibliography
Bibref 928 - 100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. LeyerleBibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 1294 - 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
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 PlantsFNA: Find Pulsatilla patens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pulsatilla patens
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-04Research By: TWC Staff