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Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Late Winter/Early Spring Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer
Foliage: Deciduous
Other details: Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; stratify if sowing indoors From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
On Jun 27, 2009, art_n_garden from Colorado Springs, CO (Zone 6a) wrote:
I adore this plant - it is literally the first thing up in the spring with the pulmonarias. It blooms seemingly straight out of the ground, with no leaves - just fuzzy blooms.
Mine is in bright morning sun until about noon and seems to thrive and persist through our variable winters.
On Jun 27, 2009, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:Editor's Note
While some resources state that there are no known hazards or side effects to the appropriate administration of extremely small therapeutic doses of plant materials from the Pulsatilla, Crocus and Colchicum genera, they are poisonous in larger quantities. Improper usage can cause coma, convulsions, and respiratory failure. Pregnant women should avoid ingesting it.
Direct contact with the plant can cause severe skin reaction.
We tend to err on the side of caution in PlantFiles, and the danger notation in the details above is to warn gardeners, parents, and pet owners to look further for more information.
On May 22, 2005, cinemike from Belfast United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:
I love pulsatillas, and I would suggest that this is the most beautiful 'vulgaris' in the whole plant kingdom.
Belfast is (more than) a bit wet for them, but I have nursed a few through from seed and am starting to get the lovely flowers.
No self-respecting garden should be without one!
On Apr 23, 2005, lmelling from Ithaca, NY (Zone 5b) wrote:
I planted these in 1997 and enjoyed this plant year after year each early spring when it bloomed. I had it planted in heavy clay soil on a small "bump"in one of my hillside gardens. It did well, enlarging slightly each year until we started having excessively wet years - several in a row, where the ground has never gotten a chance to really dry out. As of this year (2005) the clump has almost disappeared.
On Jul 17, 2004, Karenn from Mount Prospect, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
I love this perennial - two or three of the hybrids have white flowers - I happen to have one of them, along with the standard purple one and the "rubra" which is a purplish-red. It blooms in spring along with hyacinths, etc. But what really stands out about this plant is the fine-textured foliage; also the very feathery seed heads (looking almost like dandelions) last for several weeks. When seed heads strt to fade, you can cut back the foliage - it will grow a fresh "crop" of the beautiful foliage, which then looks great all summer! It prefers moist, well-drained (what plant doesn't?!) soil in part sun - mine multiply on the east side of my home.
On Jul 15, 2004, shortcm from Wilmington, DE (Zone 7b) wrote:
I love this little plant. It's at the northwest base of my floribunda rose and japanese maples bushes, so it gets partial shade. It has a pleasing domed shape, so I keep surrounding plants from crowding it. Purple flowers, nut the foliage is also beautiful.
On Jun 17, 2001, poppysue from Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) wrote:
This is low growing plant has nodding lavender purple blooms with bright golden stamens and it is suitable for rock gardens or the front of the perennial border. The foliage is deeply divided and covered with soft silvery hairs. They are quite drought tolerant once established and prefer a sunny location with well-drained soil. An added bonus is the attractive seed heads that remain on the plant for several weeks after the plants have finished blooming.
Cultivars in red, white , and pink may also be available at garden centers.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Anchorage, Alaska Colorado Springs, Colorado Denver, Colorado Fort Collins, Colorado Newark, Delaware Wilmington, Delaware Champaign, Illinois Mount Prospect, Illinois Fishers, Indiana Greenville, Indiana Dubuque, Iowa Baltimore, Maryland Brockton, Massachusetts Halifax, Massachusetts Helena, Montana Brockport, New York Ithaca, New York Clemmons, North Carolina Hendersonville, North Carolina Albion, Pennsylvania Sioux Falls, South Dakota Brigham City, Utah Essex Junction, Vermont Newport News, Virginia Anacortes, Washington Chimacum, Washington Everett, Washington Mountlake Terrace, Washington Vancouver, Washington Porterfield, Wisconsin