Anemone pulsatilla, also known by the common name pasque flower, is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial plant that produces attractive purple, pink or white blossoms with bright yellow centres each year in the early spring. Anemone pulsatilla can be easily cultivated from seed in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. At the end of each growing season, anemone pulsatilla reseeds itself to produce even more showy blossoms the following year.
Anemone pulsatilla needs plenty of warm, direct sunlight to produce its characteristic purple, pink or white blossoms. While these gorgeous wildflowers will grow in partial sun locations that get as little as four hours of direct sunlight per day, look for a planting site that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight to ensure prolific blooming. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, anemone pulsatilla also appreciates sandy, well-draining and well-worked soil.
Anemone pulsatilla have notoriously fragile root systems that can be difficult to establish. Carefully preparing the soil at your planting site before sowing your anemone pulsatilla seeds will help them to germinate, sprout and grow more successfully. Cover the soil with 3 inches humus, 2 inches peat moss, 2 inches coarse horticultural sand and 1 inch leaf mould; work the additions into the top 6 inches of soil.
Sowing Anemone Pulsatilla Seeds
Anemone pulsatilla seeds can be sowed in your garden anytime from late fall through early spring. Distribute your anemone pulsatilla seeds evenly over the surface of the prepared planting area; use a rake to cover the seeds with no more than 1/4 inch of the enriched soil. Provide up to 1 inch of supplemental irrigation immediately after sowing the seeds to encourage them to germinate and sprout. Anemone pulsatilla seed germination can take between 21 and 28 days.
Anemone Pulsatilla Care
Technically a wild flower, anemone pulsatilla will grow with little special care. However, to ensure the best performance, follow a regular irrigation and fertilisation schedule for your flowering plants. Water anemone pulsatilla weekly from early spring through summer to maintain moist, but well-drained, soil. Fertilise monthly during the spring and summer months with a half-strength application of a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser. Trim spent blossoms from your anemone pulsatilla to stimulate the production of additional flowers. At the end of the growing season, cut the entire plant back to the ground.
- "The Essential Garden"; Liz Dobbs; 2002
- Growing with Plants; Forget Easter Lilies, Consider the Pasque Flower; Matt Mattus; April 2011
- Royal Horticulture Society: Pulsatilla vulgaris (Anemone pulsatilla)
- Monrovia: Pasque Flower (Anemone pulsatilla)
- Michigan State University Extension: Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower)
- NC State University Extension: Anemone pulsatilla