Description
Pulsatilla –
There are about 30 species of clump forming, deciduous perennials in this genus. They occur mainly in short turf and alpine meadows in Eurasia, and North America. They are grown for their finely dissected, fern like leaves, and their solitary, usually silky-hairy, bell or cup shaped flowers, borne in spring and early summer. The flowers are followed by spherical seed heads with silver-silky, plume like styles, held on stems that often elongate considerably, after flowering, height given below are for plants in flower. Grow in a rock garden, scree bed, or alpine house, where the flowers and fluffy seed heads will make an impact. All parts of the plant may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, and contact with the sap may irritate skin.
Grow in fertile, very well drained soil in full sun or part shade, P. vernalis needs very gritty, moist but sharply drained soil in a scree bed, and requires protection from excessive winter moisture. P.ulsatillas resent root disturbance and may be difficult to establish, so plant when small and leave undisturbed. In an alpine house, use a mix of equal parts soil based potting mix and grit. They tend to be short lived in mild areas, they do best with cool to cold climates and cool summers.
Prone to slugs and snails.
P. alpina – Alpine pasque Flower – This dense, low, clump forming perennial from the mountains in Central Europe grows 6-12″ tall and 8″ wide. It produces finely divided, 2 pinnate, hairy, mid green leaves, 2 ½-5″ long, composed of 30-80 toothed leaflets. In spring it bears cup shaped white flowers, to 2 ½” across, with silky-hairy petals, blue tinted on the reverse, and yellow stamens, followed by ornamental seed heads.
Zones 5-7
