Pulsatilla vulgaris

Pulsatilla vulgaris: Fuzzy Violet Cups Built for Gravel

Silky violet bells with a golden centre, then feathery silver seed heads that look like a very expensive bad hair day. The pasque flower is SOFT, FUZZY AND WEIRDLY GLAMOROUS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Pulsatilla vulgaris
• Common Name: Pasque Flower
• Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)
• Spread: 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
• Flowers: Silky, bell- to cup-shaped, violet-purple with a boss of yellow stamens, followed by feathery silver seed heads
• Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring (April to May)
• Foliage: Finely divided, soft, hairy leaves
• Features: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: It's made for rock gardens, gravel gardens, the front of a sunny border and raised beds where water drains fast. Plant a few together near a path so you can see the fuzzy buds and seed heads up close.

Companion Plants: Euphorbia 'Bonfire' follows the pasque flower with yellow flowers in May and June. Lupinus perennis adds blue spikes at 30 to 60 cm over the same weeks. Solidago ptarmicoides carries on with white flowers from July to September. Purple pasque flowers open in April, so this group starts early and blooms into fall.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in light, gritty, very well-drained soil. Heavy clay that stays wet over winter is the main thing it won't tolerate, so add grit or plant on a slope or in a raised bed. Water through its first season, then only in long dry spells. Leave the seed heads in place to enjoy them. Pasque flowers grow a deep taproot and resent being moved or divided, so pick a spot and let it settle. All parts of the plant can irritate skin and upset the stomach if eaten, so wear gloves when handling it.

History: Pulsatilla vulgaris grows wild on dry, chalky grassland across much of Europe, including Britain, and its common name comes from Pasch, an old word for Easter. It's been grown in gardens for centuries and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Drought tolerant, deer resistant and dinner for the earliest bees. Plant it at the front where everyone can pet it. FUZZ IS A FEATURE.