Pulsatilla vulgaris (formerly Anemone pulsatilla)

Common name: Pasqueflower
Plant type: Hardy perennial
Flower color: Blue-violet, purple, purplish-red, white
Bloom period: Early through mid spring (March-April)
Fragrance: None
Height: 12-15"
Hardiness: Zone 5-8
Light needs: Full sun to very light shade in southern zones
Moisture needs: Regular moisture but excellent drainage; modestly drought-tolerant
Seasonal character: Two- to three-inch blossoms in early spring; ferny foliage attractive all summer long.

Pulsatilla vulgaris earns its common name of pasqueflower for blooming reliably around Easter.  Yet, depending on when Easter falls, pasqueflower may already in be in bloom well before and certainly for some time after.  Of the handful of nonbulb, early-blooming perennials, pasqueflower has always been my favorite.  I think its alpine appearance has a lot to do with my predilection for this plant.  It bears its enormous blossoms on short stems, and the entire plant is covered in long, silvery, silky hairs that make the plant look iridescent when the sunlight catches it just so.  Also, its color range of blues and purples presents a lovely foil to the otherwise predominantly yellow flowers of the season.

The blossoms (except of the less lovely, double cultivar 'Papageno'), are single and consist of around 10 petals surrounding a luminous, prominent boss of golden yellow stamens (loved by honeybees).  The petals' margins may be entire or delicately fringed, and remain  cupped, giving the blossom a wide-open bell-shape.  The flowers are big and showy--two to three inches in diameter.  Their basic color, which remains the one I prefer, is blue-violet.  But a red-purple selection, 'Rubra,' and a pure white 'Alba' expand the palette.  The seed strain 'Heiler Hybrids' comprises a mix of light blue, cream, and light and bright pink, as well as the colors listed above.

An established plant will thrust up 30 blossoms or more over a period of a couple of months.  These are followed by attractive fuzzy seedheads resembling those of clematis (both plants are members of the Ranunculaceae).  Given unmulched soil, the plant will self-sow liberally and delightfully.

After all this show is over with, you're still left with delicate, low, ferny foliage which remains attractive throughout the growing season.  And as pasqueflower is a tap-rooted plant, it is perfectly adapted to interplanting with other tap-rooted perennials that pick up blooming where the pasqueflower leaves off.  Good candidates include butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and wandflower (Gaura lindheimeri).  For a stunning simultaneously blooming combination, try pasqueflower with basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) and/or the common, pale yellow primrose (Primula vulgaris).

Except in the southernmost part of its range, pasqueflower requires full sun.  But most important, it must have light, sandy soil to thrive.  If your soil is heavy clay, don't despair!  Just mix in lavish amounts of sharp sand and compost to accommodate this star of the spring garden!

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