Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rubra'
Spring really is the time for bulbs to fill the garden with colour from the early snowdrops and narcissi through to tulips and alliums, we rely on them to kick start the garden into life. There are however, other plants that shine at this time of year and one of my favourites is Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rubra’.
I grow mine in a terracotta bowl shaped pot by my front door and for weeks now I have seen stalks gradually sprout from the crown and flower buds start to swell. The anticipation rises because I know what a beautiful flower it is once open. Finally, at the weekend, this warm sunshine coaxed the flowers to open displaying rich velvety red petals and a bright yellow centre.
Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rubra'
The foliage is mid green in colour and delicately dissected, with the flowers and stems, in particular, covered in soft downy hairs. The main variety has purplish coloured petals but it’s possible to get a white form, ‘Alba’ and a red shade, ‘Rubra’ which is the one I have.
In the garden Pulsatillas like lots of sun and well drained soil and make perfect plants for alpine gardens and containers. Once planted they don’t like being disturbed but are fairly undemanding plants otherwise. The best way to propagate them is to sow the seed in the green. I haven’t tried this yet but plan to this year.
Beautiful downy Pulsatilla
Also known as the Pasque Flower because it flowers around the time of Easter it surprised me to discover that they are native wildflowers, albeit scarce, here in Britain. It had been recorded at over 120 sites but can now be found at only 19 and of these 19 it is only found in good numbers at 5 sites. In the wild it grows in dry, chalk or limestone grassland found in the Cotswolds, East Anglia, the Chilterns, Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire. It is recognised as a ‘Priority Species’ under the UK’s Biodiversity Plan and organisations such as Natural England are working with landowners to protect their habitats. It’s main threat is from reduced grazing by sheep of grassland, stronger plants takeover and the Pasque Flower can’t compete.
Pulsatilla is the county flower of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire which might indicate how much more common it used to be. One of the best places to see them in the wild is Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Barnsley Warren Reserve. A site of Special Scientific Interest, Pasque Flowers are found here, which is the western limit of this species’ range in Europe.
Legend has it that the plants grow on the graves of Viking warriors, with the flowers springing form their blood. They are found on earth works and mounds but this has more to do with this ground being difficult to plough and therefore the soil has remained undisturbed providing the perfect conditions for Pulsatilla vulgaris to grow.
It’s sad that such a beautiful native wildflower is struggling to survive. I posted last autumn about Plantlife’s Wildflower Count Survey that we did last April. It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s survey. We have just had our form through the post and will hopefully get a chance to get out over the Easter weekend. Anyone can join, you don’t have to live in the countryside, you could survey the hedgerow on the way to the allotment. It’s a great way to collect data so that more can be learnt about our native plants and how we can go about protecting them.
For more information about seeing Pasque flowers in the wild visit Escape to the Cotswolds, Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England.
To take part in the Wildflower Count Survey visit Plantlife.
wellywoman 
Must try these beauties. Was unaware until recently that they grew in abundance in the stomping grounds of my childhood around Peterborough. By the sound of it they are living up to their name in your garden. I always associate daffodils with Easter but think that they might be gone by then this year.
A lovely zip of colour at this time of year. I do admire pulsatillas, I made a note last year to investigate them which I haven’t done yet. It’s good to know that they do well in (well-drained) pots, obviously our heavy clay wouldn’t do them much good so containers would be my only option too..
I think we’re so taken with spring bulbs that we forget about other beauties such as this. It’s a gorgeous colour. I’ll have to research where abouts in West Yorkshire they’re found.
Beautiful plants aren’t they, you must be warmer than us, mine are only just showing their leaves at the moment so still have their flowers to look forward to!
What a good post, and I like the idea of a Plant of the Moment! xx
I love this plant too, I have the purple version in a pot in my garden, but the red on this variety is so striking and I love the soft downy foliage and the seed heads. Like you I’m going to try and collect and try sowing the seed this year too.
Everything is so deliciouly pink on your page right now…lovit!
This would fit Gail at Clay and Limestone’s Wildflower Wednesday meme beautifully!
I’m very fond of pulsatillas. They used to make quite a sight in flower, en masse, at the alpine nursery. Sadly never seen them in the wild though. Dave
I think they need too much chalk for my soil,but they would have as much free draining as they liked. Yours is a beautiful colour.