Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 5-7 where it is best grown in fertile, humusy, gritty, medium to moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Good soil drainage is essential. Best performance occurs in climates with moderate summer temperatures and low humidity. Plants require consistent moisture in climates with hot summer temperatures and may be short-lived in areas south of USDA Zone 7. Plants are best left undisturbed once established.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Pulsatilla halleri, commonly known as alpine pasque flower, is an herbaceous perennial that typically matures to 8-12” tall. It is native to mountain meadows, slopes and grassy hills from the Alps in central Europe to Crimea and the Caucasus. Rich, solitary, scapose, shallow bell-shaped, upright, almost crocus-like, violet-blue flowers (to 2 1/2” across) bloom in spring atop stems rising to 6-8” tall. Flowers bloom as the pinnate basal leaves (2-6” long) begin to unfurl. Each leaf contains 3-5 pinnatifid leaflets with oblong lance-shaped lobes plus a long-stalked terminal leaflet. Leaves and stems are covered with long silky hairs. Flowers are followed by fluffy ornamental seedheads.
Pasque comes from Old French for Easter in reference to the spring bloom time.
Anemone halleri is a synonym and former name for this plant.
Subsp. taurica is native to the Crimea. Fuzzy reddish-violet flowers with yellow centers bloom singly in spring on slopes, cliffs and grassy areas of the Crimea. Subspecies name comes from the Latin tauricus meaning of the Crimea.
Genus name comes from Latin meaning sway as the flowers sway in the wind.
Specific epithet honors German botanist Hans Hallier (1868-1932).
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Rock gardens. Border fronts. Alpine slopes/meadows. Prairie areas.