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Pulsatilla vulgaris

Pasqueflower · European Pasqueflower · Common Pasqueflower

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Pulsatilla

A violet bell flower opened wide to show a dense yellow boss of stamens, on a stem covered in long silvery hairs.
FlowerPer A.J. AnderssonCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Cream/Tan, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • The pasqueflower is the county flower of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. It was long counted as an Anemone, and some sources still call it Anemone pulsatilla. Wikipedia: Pulsatilla vulgaris

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

91% germination in 14–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202Public domain
Show the original text
Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae). The following species germ. in April from seed sown outdoors in winter: P. vulgaris germ. at the same rate at 70 as at 40. Seed DS 6 m at 40 and fresh seed germ. 70(91% in 2-5 w) and 40(18%)-70(72% in 2-30 d). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. in lower percentage as shown by 70(17% in 3rd w)and 40-70(50% in 1-5 w). P. vulgaris v. zimmemiannii germ. 70D(20% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 6, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    18 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 30 days.

72% germination in 2–30 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202Public domain
Show the original text
Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae). The following species germ. in April from seed sown outdoors in winter: P. vulgaris germ. at the same rate at 70 as at 40. Seed DS 6 m at 40 and fresh seed germ. 70(91% in 2-5 w) and 40(18%)-70(72% in 2-30 d). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. in lower percentage as shown by 70(17% in 3rd w)and 40-70(50% in 1-5 w). P. vulgaris v. zimmemiannii germ. 70D(20% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 4, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 35 days.

50% germination in 7–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202Public domain
Show the original text
Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae). The following species germ. in April from seed sown outdoors in winter: P. vulgaris germ. at the same rate at 70 as at 40. Seed DS 6 m at 40 and fresh seed germ. 70(91% in 2-5 w) and 40(18%)-70(72% in 2-30 d). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. in lower percentage as shown by 70(17% in 3rd w)and 40-70(50% in 1-5 w). P. vulgaris v. zimmemiannii germ. 70D(20% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

20% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202Public domain
Show the original text
Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae). The following species germ. in April from seed sown outdoors in winter: P. vulgaris germ. at the same rate at 70 as at 40. Seed DS 6 m at 40 and fresh seed germ. 70(91% in 2-5 w) and 40(18%)-70(72% in 2-30 d). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. in lower percentage as shown by 70(17% in 3rd w)and 40-70(50% in 1-5 w). P. vulgaris v. zimmemiannii germ. 70D(20% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

17% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202Public domain
Show the original text
Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae). The following species germ. in April from seed sown outdoors in winter: P. vulgaris germ. at the same rate at 70 as at 40. Seed DS 6 m at 40 and fresh seed germ. 70(91% in 2-5 w) and 40(18%)-70(72% in 2-30 d). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. in lower percentage as shown by 70(17% in 3rd w)and 40-70(50% in 1-5 w). P. vulgaris v. zimmemiannii germ. 70D(20% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pulsatilla p. 202. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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