Pulsatilla pratensis aka Small Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla pratensis, or pasque flower, belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial from eastern and central Europe. Its wider range includes southern Scandinavia and parts of southeastern Europe. It also occurs in the European part of Russia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Open fields form part of its wild habitat. The species grows in temperate regions.

Plants reach about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] in height. Their spread is about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. They suit planted beds and can form ground cover. For this use, space plants about 1 foot [0.3 metres] apart. Flowers appear from May to June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the plant is self-fertile. Seeds ripen from June to July.

Choose a sunny site with soil that drains well. This plant does not grow in shade. It needs humus-rich soil with grit to aid drainage. Sandy and loamy soils both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and alkaline ground. It prefers lime and can grow in very alkaline soil. Soil may be dry or moist. Established plants can cope with drought. PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8 and hardiness near −20°C. Choose its site with care, since large plants transplant poorly. Root disturbance can also cause problems. PFAF reports that it can hinder nearby plants, especially legumes.

Seed offers one way to raise new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame in early summer. Fresh seed may sprout within two to three weeks. Stored seed can take one to six months at 15°C. Sow stored seed in late winter under a cold frame. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them in their final sites the next spring. Root cuttings offer another method, but require care with the roots.

PFAF lists no known edible uses and describes slight toxicity. It reports that heat or drying reduces the toxins. That does not establish the plant as food. The source also records herbal and homeopathic uses. These include external use for ulcers and eye inflammation. Such records describe past uses, not proof of safe treatment.