We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Pulsatilla vulgaris - Mill.

Common Name Pasque Flower, European pasqueflower
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards The plant is slightly toxic, the toxins are dissipated by heat or by drying the plant[65]. Repeated handling of the plant can cause skin irritation in some people[238].
Habitats Dry, sunny grassy calcareous slopes[17, 244, 268].
Range Northern and central Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Pulsatilla vulgaris Pasque Flower, European pasqueflower


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Backsippa.jpg
Pulsatilla vulgaris Pasque Flower, European pasqueflower
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Orchi

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Anemone pulsatilla

Plant Habitats

 Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative  Antispasmodic  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  Homeopathy  Nervine  
Ophthalmic  Sedative

Pasque flower is considered by herbalists to be of highly valuable modern curative use as a herbal simple[4]. The plant contains the glycoside ranunculin, this is converted to anemonine when the plant is dried and is the medicinally active principle in the plant[268]. The whole plant is alterative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, nervine and sedative[4, 46, 165]. It is taken internally in the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome, inflammations of the reproductive organs, tension headaches, neuralgia, insomnia, hyperactivity, bacterial skin infections, septicaemia, spasmodic coughs in asthma, whooping cough and bronchitis[238]. Externally, it is used to treat eye conditions such as diseases of the retina, senile cataract and glaucoma[244]. This remedy should be used with caution[165], excessive doses cause diarrhoea and vomiting[238]. It should not be prescribed to patients with colds[238]. See also the notes above on toxicity[165]. The plant is harvested soon after flowering, it is more poisonous when fresh and so should be carefully preserved by drying[4, 268]. It should not be stored for longer than 12 months before being used[4]. In homeopathy, the plant is considered to be specific in the treatment of measles[244]. It is also used for treating nettle rash, toothache, earache and bilious indigestion[244].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Dye

A green dye is obtained from the flowers[238]. Plants can be grown to form a ground cover, they are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained humus rich gritty soil in a sunny position[200]. Lime tolerant[1]. Prefers lime[187]. Grows best in a well-drained chalky soil in a dry warm situation[268]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[190]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[187]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[187]. The plant has become rare in its natural environment, due partly to over-collecting and partly to habitat loss[238]. Large plants transplant badly[200]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early summer in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in about 2 - 3 weeks. Sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. Germination takes about 1 - 6 months at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the spring. Root cuttings, 4cm long taken in early winter, potted up in a mixture of peat and sand[175]. They can also be taken in July/August, planted vertically in pots in a greenhouse or frame. Some care is needed since the plant resents root disturbance[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden (south), Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Romania (north), Serbia, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Pulsatilla cernua Perennial0.2 4-8  LMNM12 
Pulsatilla chinensisBai Tou WengPerennial0.3 5-9  LMNM03 
Pulsatilla dahurica Perennial0.3 5-9  LMNM03 
Pulsatilla koreanaKorean Pasque FlowerPerennial0.3 -  LMNM02 
Pulsatilla patensPasque Flower, Eastern pasqueflower, Cutleaf anemonePerennial0.5 4-8  LMNM02 
Pulsatilla pratensisPasque FlowerPerennial0.5 4-8  LMNDM023

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Leo Keaveney   Sat Nov 17 2007

This article was in the Irish Examiner http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/11/16/story48105.asp MRSA faces defeat from wild flower A WILD flower growing in West Cork could hold the key to wiping out the deadly superbug MRSA, it has emerged. Researchers at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) have revealed the bright yellow flower known as inula helenium kills the lethal bug, which is resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics on the market. Inula helenium is a tall plant which grows wild in west Cork and blossoms in late summer. It’s one of two herbs involved in a €35,000 research project carried out at CIT. The other, pulsatilla vulgaris, also proved highly effective against the potentially fatal MRSA bug. Extracts from both plants were tested against a group of 300 staphylococci including MRSA and inula helenium proved 100% effective against the superbug. The trials were carried out by postgraduate student Susan O’Shea of CIT’s biological sciences department as part of a two-year research project, under the supervision of Dr Brigid Lucey, a senior medical scientist with the microbiology department of Cork University Hospital and Dr Lesley Cotter, a lecturer in biomedical sciences at CIT.

Jennifer   Thu Feb 5 2009

Greetings, thank you for the info regarding the Pulsatilla vulgaris and also the Inula helenimum.Were the trials used on humans? If so, what formulation liquid dried herbs what? I ask because we have a member of our family w/MERSA and last year alone was on anti-biotics alomst constantly age 25. I realize you MUST NOT prescribe but we are searching for good ,natural remedies to resolve this health problem. Thank you so much! so

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Pulsatilla vulgaris  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.