Pasque Flower Blossoms Are a Sure Sign Spring Is Here (2024)

A harbinger of spring, pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) blossoms begin to emerge before the plant’s feathery, fernlike foliage has fully expanded. Be sure to plant this low-growing plant near the front of the garden border or near an entryway or patio so you can enjoy its early spring flowers, fuzzy silver foliage, and frilly pompom seed heads. After the flowers fade and the seed heads fall, enjoy the foliage for weeks in summer. The leaves may die back at the end of the summer, but easy-to-grow pasque flower is one of the first plants to emerge the following spring. Enjoy the pasque flower's fluffy seed heads in the garden or harvest them for a striking bouquet.

All parts of fresh pasque flower are toxic to humans.

Where to Plant Pasque Flower

Plant pasque flower in well-draining soil and full or part sun. In moist climates or heavy soil, plant pasque flower on sloping beds or hillsides or in raised beds so they have adequate drainage. Pasque flower grows best in northern climates where it receives a prolonged winter chill.

Pasque flowers are the ideal planting partners for early spring bloomers such as species tulips and wildflower tulips, miniature daffodils, and crocus. Like the early spring bulbs, pasque flower is an invaluable source of nectar for honeybees and native bees that forage in early spring. Plant drifts of three to five pasque flowers among large clumps of bulbs to create a bold display of nature's early-season beauty.

How and When to Plant Pasque Flower

Plant pasque flower nursery plants in spring or early summer. Established plants have a long taproot and are difficult to divide or transplant. Instead, purchase new cultivars from the garden center and watch for seedlings that emerge around established plants. Plant nursery plants in a prepared garden bed at the same depth they were in the nursery container, being careful not to damage the roots. Backfill the hole and water the plant.

When planting seeds, prepare a seed bed in late fall and sow the seeds outdoors. Cover them with 1/8 inch of soil. The seed will overwinter and germinate in spring.

Pasque Flower Care Tips

Light

Pasque flower grows best in full sun or part sun.

Soil and Water

These drought-tolerant plants grow in rich or poor soil as long as it drains well and has an alkaline pH of 7 to 8. If the soil is clay, the addition of compost improves its drainage. Both overwatering and underwatering are problems for pasque flower, but overwatering is the more common culprit. Watering these plants at the base once or twice a week is usually sufficient.

Temperature and Humidity

Pasque flower grows best when planted in areas with long, chilly winters, and it thrives in northern states. It prefers low to average humidity.

Fertilizer

Pasque flower is not a heavy feeder. A single application of all-purpose, granular fertilizer in spring is sufficient, following the product instructions. Do not overfertilize.

Pruning

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional blooms or to prevent self-seeding. There is no need to cut back the plant in winter. Its dried seed heads and foliage add interest to the winter garden. Wait until spring and then cut it back to the ground right before new growth emerges.

Potting and Repotting Pasque Flower

Pasque flower grows well in containers that offer good drainage. Fill the container with garden soil amended with compost to be well-draining. Sow the seeds and cover them with no more than 1/8 inch of soil. They need additional water when growing in containers, but the surface should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Although the plant is not a heavy feeder, when grown in a container it benefits from an application of water-soluble fertilizer early in spring. Don't move the container inside for the winter. Pasque flower needs a dormant period to bloom well in the spring. Don't let the plant become potbound. Repot it in a larger pot using the same type soil.

Pests and Problems

Pasque flower is relatively pest-free, although it sometimes attracts black beetles. They can be picked off by hand and dropped in soapy water or treated with neem oil.

Any problems with the plant are usually related to overly wet soil. Root rot is one to watch out for.

How to Propagate Pasque Flower

The long tap root of pasque flower makes it difficult to divide. Instead, keep an eye on an established plant for any volunteer seedlings growing near the plant. Seedlings can be transplanted successfully while they are young.

Harvest and sow seeds in the fall. Fresh seeds have the best germination rate, and sowing them in the fall takes care of the cold stratification period necessary for breaking dormancy. After the plant finishes blooming and the flowers are spent, the seed head resembles that of a dandelion. Each seed has a feathery attachment. Be vigilant! The seeds are disbursed by wind when they are ripe unless they are harvested first. Sow the seeds on the surface of a prepared seed bed and cover them with 1/8 inch of soil.

Love silver-leaf plants? Add more to your garden using this list!

Types of Pasque Flower

'Alba' Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Alba’ is a clump-forming perennial that stands only 1 foot tall. It has creamy white flowers and blooms in late spring. The large bell-shaped flowers grow up to 3 inches across. It combines well with spring flowering bulbs and is at home in rock gardens. Zones 4-8

'Papageno' Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Papageno' is a long-time favorite (formerly Anemone pulsatilla) that brings an eye-catching mix of creamy white, bright pink, dark red, and violet flowers to the garden. These fringed and semidouble blooms are crocuslike flowers with a unique flower shape. Fluffy seed heads provide winter interest. Zones 5-7

'Rote Glocke' Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rote Glocke’, also called 'Red Bells' and 'Red Clock', produces large, deep crimson flowers in early spring. It has an extended bloom time of more than four weeks and is deer and rabbit resistant. It is an excellent rock garden plant. Zones 4-8

'Rubra' Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rubra’ has wine-red, cup-shaped flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to mid spring. The plumelike seed heads are particularly attractive. Zones 4-8

Pasque Flower Companion Plants

The blooms and foliage of pasque flower complement many mid- and late-season bloomers.

Sedum

A diverse group of plants,sedum comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes. With so many varieties available, sedums can be found in bloom three seasons a year. Bees and butterflies love the flowers, making this plant perfect forpollinator gardens. On taller blooming varieties, the dried bloom stems add winter interest to the garden. The best part is that sedum is easy to grow and requires very little maintenance.

Perennial Geranium

Don't confuse perennial geranium with annual geraniums. They aren't even related. There are over 300 species and varieties of perennial geraniums, so it's easy to find one to suit your needs. The plants are short—usually less than 12 inches, although some varieties reach 18 inches—and are ideal for groundcovers and border gardens.

Lady's Mantle

Lady’s mantle features dainty yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer in airy masses above the foliage. Initially, the flowers sit above the foliage until they become too heavy and droop down gracefully. The flowers, similar to baby’s breath, last for several weeks and are excellent for both cut and dried flower arrangements.

Yarrow

Yarrow is a classic garden perennial known for its ruggedness. It shrugs off cold winters, hot and humid summers, drought, and poor soils to cheerfully bloom in sunny places. Its tall stems of colorful flowers and fernlike foliage work especially well in a cottage garden setting and in wildflower gardens.

Blanket Flower

Few other perennials can rival what blanket flower brings to the garden. On top of their visual appeal, the bright, cheery blossoms of blanket flowers are a wonderful food source for pollinators. Come fall, small birds also love to pick seeds off of spent blooms. Available in many warm colors and even a few cool shades, blanket flowers can make a big statement in a garden.

Daylily

What began as a plant with simple yellow or red flowers has changed drastically through years of breeding. Today there are daylilies with yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, white, and peach-colored flowers and with flowers in different shades and tints. More than just the color palette has expanded over the years. Daylilies vary in height and type of bloom, including the long, slender petals of spider-type daylilies and daylilies with ruffled double flowers.

Goldenrod

Goldenrod begins displaying its yellow blossoms in late summer and continues into fall. Some varieties feature large flower clusters at the tops of tall stems; others boast gracefully arching stems holding single rows of blossoms. Look closely, and you'll see each large spiky, fleecy, or flat-topped flowerhead features hundreds of tiny daisylike flowers that resemble those of aster, a close relative of goldenrod.