Pulsatilla dahurica aka Dahurian Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla dahurica belongs to Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family. It is a perennial, living for more than one year. Its native range runs from southern and eastern Siberia to North Korea. Records also place it in northeastern China and Russia’s Far East. It grows in temperate regions. Its sites include alpine meadows, or mountain grassland, and river shingle. This shingle is stony ground near rivers. Some sites are open, while shrubs cover others.

The plant grows about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. Older plants form a deep, woody rootstock. Once settled, these plants are hard to move. Choose a lasting site so mature plants need not move. Flowers bloom from May to June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen to the flowers. The supplied evidence for this species gives no flower colour. It gives no detailed account of the leaves either.

In gardens, this species needs sun and soil that drains well. It does not grow in shade. Plants For A Future suggests soil rich in humus, with added grit. Sandy soil and loam suit it if they hold some moisture. It accepts mildly acid soil and neutral soil. It also grows in alkaline soil, even when strongly alkaline. The source lists USDA zones 5–9. It can grow in cultivated beds. It may curb the growth of nearby plants. The source singles out legumes as plants at risk.

Raise new plants from seed or root cuttings. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame in early summer. Fresh seed may sprout within two to three weeks. Stored seed takes one to six months at 15°C. Sow stored seed in late winter. Move young plants into separate pots once large enough. Keep them in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them in their final sites the next spring. Take root cuttings in early winter or late summer.

Plants For A Future lists no known food uses. It lists no other non-medicinal uses either. It records uses of the root and fresh herb as medicine. These include treating pain, inflammation, spasms, and dysentery. The account also notes strong sedative effects and effects on the heart. These records do not show that home use is safe. Its hazard note cites toxic plants elsewhere in the genus. It does not confirm that this species is toxic. The supplied evidence thus leaves this species’ safety unclear.