Pulsatilla cernua

Pulsatilla cernua is a small perennial in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It grows to about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall. Kew lists its native range from the Russian Far East to Korea. Plants For A Future gives a wider range across temperate Asia. That account includes parts of China, Mongolia and Japan. It records the plant on grassy slopes in northern China. In Japan, it grows in grassland on low mountains.

Flowers appear from April to May, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, and seeds ripen from May to June. Older plants develop a deep, woody rootstock. This makes them hard to move without damage. Choose a lasting site rather than planning to transplant mature plants. The evidence gives no species-level details of flower colour or leaf shape.

Grow this plant in sun, in soil that drains well. Plants For A Future says it cannot grow in shade. It prefers moist ground with humus and grit. Sandy and loamy soils suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and alkaline conditions, including very alkaline soil. The source lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. It also records use in cultivated beds. It reports that the plant can hinder nearby growth, with legumes most at risk.

Seeds offer one way to raise new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame in early summer. Fresh seed may sprout in two to three weeks. Stored seed takes longer, sometimes one to six months at 15°C. Sow stored seed in late winter. Move seedlings into their own pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them in their final place in spring. Root cuttings provide another means of propagation.

Plants For A Future records cooked young leaves and roots as food. It gives the plant a low edible-use score and urges caution. Its toxicity warning concerns another member of the genus, not confirmed poisoning by this species. That warning does not establish that Pulsatilla cernua is safe to eat. The source also records medicinal uses of the root and fresh herb. These include pain relief, sedation and treatment of dysentery. These are reported uses, not grounds for self-treatment.