Eastern pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens)
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Blue-violet to nearly white
in early spring
Light: Full sun
Soil: Gritty, alkaline, well-drained
Pests: None serious
Size: 6 to 12 in. tall and wide
Cold Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 7
Welcome spring with Eastern pasque flower
At the first sign of warm weather, even when there’s still a little snow on the ground, eastern pasque flower shows its pretty face. The 2- to 4-inch-wide blooms open in shades of blue-violet to nearly white on short stems that stretch as the flowers age. For many bees the pollen from this native perennial is the first food they find after a long winter.
Depending on the temperature, each blossom only lasts a few days. But an established clump usually has enough buds to keep the show going for several weeks. Flowers open on sunny days and close at night or when it’s cloudy. And don’t bother picking them for bouquets — they wilt as soon as you cut them.
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Enjoy unique seedheads
If you look closely at pasque flower plants, you’ll notice the fine coating of fuzz on the leaves and stems. In exposed locations, it helps protect them from cold, harsh spring winds. Wispy seedheads you see in the photo above will break into individual seeds. Some will sprout to grow new plants just like the parent.
Ideal growing conditions for Eastern pasque flower
Eastern pasque flower needs alkaline conditions, so test your soil before you plant. Then use agricultural lime around the plant to adjust the pH. If the soil stays wet, the crown will rot. That’s why this perennial’s perfect in rock gardens or tucked into stones as I’ve done in the garden planting plan below. Soil that contains lots of grit or fine gravel is ideal.
Get flowers off to a good start
When you’re shopping for eastern pasque flower you may find it under its old botanical name Anemone patens. And whether by mail or at the garden center, odds are you’ll find only small plants or packets of seeds. That’s because a deep taproot makes it tough to transplant.
Set out plants in spring or fall, but sow seeds from summer to early fall. They need a cold period before they grow next spring. Germination is often poor, so be sure to sow more than you need. One last thing you need to know: By summer, this spring bloomer goes dormant and the foliage will disappear. Be sure to mark the spot so you don’t dig it out, and it’ll be back next year.
Spring garden layout with Eastern pasque flower
Dry-stacked stone walls are charming on their own. But fill some of the spaces with gritty soil, tuck in a few plants and when the perennials bloom it’ll be even more striking. After these early perennials finish, all but the eastern pasque flower will have foliage that looks great nestled between the stones. See the plant list below that corresponds with the lettered illustration shown above.
Plant list
A) Eastern pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens)
Perennial; blue-violet to nearly white in early spring; full sun; 6 to 12 in. tall and wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7
B) Dwarf iris (Iris ‘Photon’)
Perennial rhizome; bright yellow flowers with a small stroke of orange on the falls in spring; full sun; 8 to 12 in. tall, 6 to 10 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
C) Basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
Perennial; bright golden yellow flowers in spring; full sun; 6 to 12 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
D) Moss phlox (Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’)
Perennial; pink-striped white spring flowers; full sun; 4 to 6 in. tall, 16 to 24 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
E) Hen and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
Perennial; gray-green leaf rosettes; full sun; 1 to 3 in. tall, 1 to 5 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
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