Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens)

common name: 
Pasqueflower, Prairie Crocus
 | 
scientific name: 
Pulsatilla
 
patens
Purple pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) with yellow center and fuzzy stems blooming in early spring.

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) produces soft purple blooms with bright yellow centers and distinctive fuzzy stems in early spring. Very valuable for early pollinators. Photo taken March 26, 2026, by the South Entrance of Keim Hall.

Image Creadit: 
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant
Purple pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) with yellow center and fuzzy stems blooming in early spring.
Purple pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) with yellow center and fuzzy stems blooming in early spring.

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) is a native prairie perennial that signals the arrival of spring with its soft, bell-shaped purple flowers and bright yellow centers. Covered in fine, silky hairs, both the flowers and stems have a distinctive fuzzy appearance that helps protect the plant from early-season cold and wind. Blooming very early in spring, pasqueflower provides an important nectar source for emerging pollinators. After flowering, it produces attractive, feathery seed heads that add continued interest to the landscape.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones: 
3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Dry
Space Requirements: 
Less than 12 inches
Height Requirements: 
Less than 2 feet
Spread Requirements: 
Less than 1 foot
Bloom Color: 
Purple
Bloom Time: 
Spring
Leaf Color: 
Green
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Dry Soil
Uses: 
Naturalize
Varieties