Meadow pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pratensis) Flower, Leaf, Care, Uses

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Meadow pasqueflower

Pulsatilla pratensis

Also known as : Pasque flower

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 8 to 30 cm tall. The leaves are finely divided and thread-like, and densely covered with silvery hairs. The flowers are 2 to 3 cm long, pendulous, bell-like, the tepals with reflexed tips; flower colour varies from purple in the north of the species' range to greenish-violet in the south.

Hardiness Zones

4 to 8

More Info

Plant Type

Herb

Flower Color

Pink

Purple

Blue

Brown

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Buttercups, poppies and allies

Family

Buttercup

Genus

Pasque flowers

Species

Meadow pasqueflower

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Distribution Map

Habitat

Open fields

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Questions About Meadow pasqueflower

Watering

Sunlight

Temperature

What is the best way to water my Meadow pasqueflower?

When watering the Meadow pasqueflower, you should aim to use filtered water that is at room temperature. Filtered water is better for this plant, as tap water can contain particles that are harmful to its health. The reason that the water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer is that the Meadow pasqueflower comes from a warm environment, and cold water can be somewhat of a shock to its system. Also, you should avoid overhead watering for this plant, as it can cause foliage complications. Instead, simply apply your filtered room temperature water to the soil until the soil is entirely soaked. Soaking the soil can be very beneficial for this plant as it moistens the roots and helps them continue to spread through the soil and collect the nutrients they need.

What should I do if I water my Meadow pasqueflower too much or too little?

Both overwatering and underwatering will be detrimental to the health of your Meadow pasqueflower, but overwatering is a far more common issue. When this species receives too much water, its stems and leaves may begin to wilt and turn from green to yellow. Overwatering over a prolonged period may also lead to diseases such as root rot, mold, and mildew, all of which can kill your plant. Underwatering is far less common for the Meadow pasqueflower, as this plant has decent drought tolerance. However, underwatering remains a possibility, and when it occurs, you can expect to find that the leaves of your Meadow pasqueflower have become brittle and brown.

It is crucial that you notice the signs of overwatering as soon as possible when caring for your Meadow pasqueflower. Some of the diseases that arise from overwatering, such as root rot, may not be correctable if you wait too long. If you see early signs of overwatering, you should reduce your watering schedule immediately. You may also want to assess the quality of soil in which your Meadow pasqueflower grows. If you find that the soil drains very poorly, you should replace it immediately with a loose, well-draining potting mix. On the other hand, if you find signs that your Meadow pasqueflower is receiving too little water, all you need to do is water more regularly until those signs have subsided.

How often should I water my Meadow pasqueflower?

If your plant is in a pot. The most precise way to decide whether your Meadow pasqueflower needs water is to plunge your finger into the soil. If you notice that the first two to three inches of soil have become dry, it is time to add some water.

If you grow your Meadow pasqueflower outdoors in the ground, you can use a similar method to test the soil. Again, when you find that the first few inches of soil have dried out, it is time to add water. During the spring and early fall, this method will often lead you to water this plant about once every week. When extremely hot weather arrives, you may need to increase your watering frequency to about twice or more per week. With that said, mature, well-established the Meadow pasqueflower can show an admirable ability to withstand drought.

How much water does my Meadow pasqueflower need?

When it comes time to water your Meadow pasqueflower, you should not be shy about how much water you give. With the first two to three inches of soil dry, this plant will appreciate a long and thorough watering. Supply enough water to soak the soil entirely. The amount of water you add should be enough to cause excess water to flow through the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot. If you don’t see excess water draining from the pot, you have likely underwatered your plant. But do not let the water accumulate inside the soil, which will be very dangerous to the plant as well. Alternatively, a lack of water draining through the pot could indicate poorly draining soils, which is detrimental to the health of this plant and should be avoided. If the plant is outside, 1 inch of rain per week will be sufficient.

How should I water my Meadow pasqueflower at different growth stages?

The water needs of the Meadow pasqueflower can change depending on growth stages as well. For example, when your Meadow pasqueflower is in the first few years of its life, or if you have just transplanted it to a new growing location, you will need to give more water than usual. During both of those stages, your Meadow pasqueflower will put a lot of energy towards sprouting new roots that will then support future growth. For those roots to perform their best, they need a bit more moisture than they would at a more mature phase. After a few seasons, your Meadow pasqueflower will need much less water. Another growth stage in which this plant may need more water is during the bloom period. Flower development can make use of a significant amount of moisture, which is why you might need to give your Meadow pasqueflower more water at this time.

How should I water my Meadow pasqueflower through the seasons?

The Meadow pasqueflower will have its highest water needs during the hottest months of the year. During the height of summer, you may need to give this plant water more than once per week, depending on how fast the soil dries out. The opposite is true during the winter. In winter, your plant will enter a dormant phase, in which it will need far less water than usual. In fact, you may not need to water this plant at all during the winter months. However, if you do water during winter, you should not do so more than about once per month. Watering too much at this time will make it more likely that your Meadow pasqueflower will contract a disease.

What's the difference between watering my Meadow pasqueflower indoors and outdoors?

It is most common to grow the Meadow pasqueflower indoors for any gardener that does not live in temperate and tropical regions. Those gardeners should consider the fact that soil in a container can dry out a bit faster than ground soil. Also, the presence of drying elements such as air conditioning units can cause your Meadow pasqueflower to need water on a more frequent basis as well. if you planted it outside. When that is the case, it’s likely you won’t need to water your Meadow pasqueflower very much at all. If you receive rainfall on a regular basis, that may be enough to keep your plant alive. Alternatively, those who grow this plant inside will need to water it more often, as allowing rainwater to soak the soil will not be an option.

What type of sunlight does Meadow pasqueflower need?

Meadow pasqueflower needs full sun every day, and these plants rely on a minimum of six hours of sunlight to keep their leaves, roots, and blooms in a healthy state. Even though most perennials need six hours of sunlight a day, plants like the Orange Daylily or Giant Coreopsis could live off less sun for a minimum of three hours daily. Even though these perennial flowering plants can live with only three hours of direct sunlight, they won't be able to thrive like they would in sunnier conditions.

Can sunlight damage Meadow pasqueflower? How to protect Meadow pasqueflower from the sun and heat damage?

The few Perennial Flowering Plants that don't like excessive heat in warm climates might react poorly to too much sun if they have heat damage. These plants may wilt or dry out from too much sun and may also develop growth issues if they're regularly in the sun during the most intense heat of the day. Some plants don't need protection from the light afternoon sun, but those that are harmed by intense afternoon exposure should be provided some shade in warmer climates. Gardeners could give these plants plenty of shade by planting them in spots that don't receive direct heat during the afternoon, like under trees or behind bushes.

Should I protect Meadow pasqueflower from sun exposure?

While many perennial plants need plenty of sun to bloom to their fullest extent, some of them benefit from less sun in warmer climates. For example, people who live in hotter climates might want to provide shade for their flowering perennials in the hot afternoon sun, and this is even more true for months in the summer.

Even though some perennial flowering plants will benefit from partially shaded in the hottest climates, plants like the Giant Coreopsis aren't intimidated by too much sun. They might sit outside in the full sun in hot weather and still thrive.

What will happen if Meadow pasqueflower gets inadequate sunlight?

If you're growing Meadow pasqueflower and you aren't getting enough sunlight, you'll notice signs of inadequate requirements in your plants. Most plants won't produce as many blooms as they would if they had full sun exposure. Some plants will develop dry spots on their leaves, but most of these plants will still bloom in the inadequate sun. Even though they bloom, the flowers will be smaller and less full.

Does Meadow pasqueflower need special care about sunlight during its different growth stages?

Meadow pasqueflower is great flowers in gardens and will have optimum blooming if it gets six hours of sunlight a day minimum. Sometimes, flowers stay fresh longer if they're partially shaded during the really hot parts of the day. When Meadow pasqueflower is young, gardeners want to ensure their younger plants are getting plenty of sunlight but don't have to endure intense heat during the afternoon sunlight. If you have a fully mature plant, provide it with plenty of sun so it may keep up its growth properly.

How much light does Meadow pasqueflower need for photosynthesis?

Meadow pasqueflower will need a minimum of six hours of light to best support their photosynthesis cycles. These flowering plants need the sun to help their foliage and blooms grow. However, certain perennial flowering plants like the Giant Coreopsis might need anywhere from eight to twelve hours of full sun a day to maintain their large flowers and healthy foliage.

How much light should Meadow pasqueflower get per day to grow healthily?

If you want your Meadow pasqueflower to grow healthy and bloom as much as possible during its blooming season, you should try to give your plant six hours of direct sunlight. Some perennial plants might even do more sunlight and could sit in the sun for up to twelve hours, depending on the heat in the area and the general environment. Plants like the Red Hot Poker and Giant Coreopsis thrive in much hotter climates and might sit in all types of strong sunlight.

Some home gardeners have to use grow lights because their spaces don't allow for tons of outdoor sunlight. Most perennials could grow happily in grow lights, but they will need anywhere from eight to fourteen hours of artificial light to stay strong since these lights don't have as much power as the sun.

What is the optimal temperature for Meadow pasqueflower?

The best temperature for Meadow pasqueflower depends on the time of year. There are two primary seasons to discuss for temperature: the growing season, and the dormancy season. During the growing season, once Meadow pasqueflower has begun to sprout, the ideal temperature range should be anywhere from 65~80℉(18~27℃). Any colder than 15℉(-10℃), and the plant will suffer; its leaves may brown and wilt, but if this is a short cold snap, then Meadow pasqueflower may be able to survive with some help.

During the warmer parts of the year, Meadow pasqueflower will need to be similarly protected from temperatures that are too high. 95-105℉ (35-40℃) is the top of this plant’s temperature range, and anything above that will compromise the integrity of the foliage and blooms of Meadow pasqueflower. Hotter temperatures can cause wilting, drooping, and even sunburn on the leaves, which can be difficult for Meadow pasqueflower to recover from. There are quite a few ways to combat this issue that are quick and easy!

Temperature requirements for first year or seedling Meadow pasqueflower

If this is the first year of your Meadow pasqueflower outside as a new plant, then it may need a little extra tending during the coldest months of the year. Not only can frost more severely damage a first-year Meadow pasqueflower, but it can also prevent it from growing back as a healthy plant come spring. This plant needs to be kept at 40℉(5℃) or above when they’re not yet established, which can be done either by bringing your Meadow pasqueflower inside for a month or two, or putting up mulch or fabric barriers that protect from frost damage.

It’s also a good idea to plant Meadow pasqueflower in a shadier spot during the first year or two, as smaller and weaker plants have a more difficult time maintaining their own temperatures in the heat. First-year Meadow pasqueflower should receive no more than five hours of direct sunlight per day, particularly if the ambient daytime temperature gets above 80℉(27℃). Shadecloth and frequent watering or misting are the keys to summer heat control.

How can I protect Meadow pasqueflower from extreme temperatures?

If cold temperatures (below 15℉(-10℃)) do occur during the growing season, there are a few measures you can take to help protect Meadow pasqueflower from frost or cold damage. If you’re growing Meadow pasqueflower in a container, then the container can simply be brought inside in bright, indirect light until the temperatures rise up over the lower threshold again. Another option that’s better suited for ground-planted Meadow pasqueflower is to use mulch or horticultural fabric to create an insulated barrier around the plant, which will protect the plant from frost and cold wind.

For temperatures that are hotter than 80℉(27℃) in the shade during the day, be careful to only expose Meadow pasqueflower to six hours or less of sunlight per day, preferably in the morning hours. Putting up shade cloth, or a fine plastic mesh, can help reduce the amount of direct sunlight that hits the plant during the hottest parts of the day. You can also install a misting system that allows for a slow release of cooling mist around the base of the plant during the day to lower ground temperatures.

Dormant season temperature recommendations for Meadow pasqueflower

During the cold winter months, Meadow pasqueflower needs a certain measure of cold in order to stay in dormancy until it’s time to sprout. Sprouting too early, that is before the danger of the last frost has passed, can be fatal to Meadow pasqueflower, especially if it’s already had a head start when the frost hits. Winter temperatures should ideally stay below 32℉(0℃), but if they get up to 40℉(5℃), everything will be just fine.

An unexpected warm spell during the cold months, which can happen in more temperate climates like woodland rainforests, can trigger a premature sprout from Meadow pasqueflower. In this case, if there’s still imminent danger of frost, you may want to try covering it with clear plastic on stakes so that the cold has less of a chance of damaging the new sprout. This setup can be removed when the danger of frost has passed. Occasionally, Meadow pasqueflower will be able to resprout at the correct time without any help, but this method increases the chances of a successful second sprouting.

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Water

Every week

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Lighting

Full sun

Meadow pasqueflower requires abundant exposure to the sun's rays for robust growth. Both its origin habitat and various stages of development have been observed to thrive with substantial light. Over-exposure or under-exposure could potentially cause stunted growth, pale color, or wilting.

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Temperature

-25 35 ℃

Meadow pasqueflower adaptable to different climates, it thrives in its native habitat with temperatures between 41 to 89.6 °F (5 to 32 ℃). In winter, ensure it's not exposed to temperatures below 41 °F and cool it down in summer if above 89.6 °F.

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Add to My Garden

Meadow pasqueflower

Pulsatilla pratensis

Also known as: Pasque flower

Hardiness Zones

4 to 8