# Greater Pasqueflower (*Pulsatilla grandis*) The Greater Pasqueflower is a beautiful purple flower that blooms in spring. Its soft petals and fuzzy leaves make it look like a little fairy's hat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Greater Pasqueflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Velikonocnica_boc_4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eleassar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Velikonocnica_boc_4.jpg) ## Appearance The Greater Pasqueflower has large, bell-shaped flowers of deep violet-purple, often appearing fuzzy all over. Its stems and deeply divided leaves are covered in soft, silvery hairs, giving it a distinctive, ethereal glow. Prominent yellow stamens add a vibrant contrast to its petals. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Pulsatilla ## Interesting facts - After the flowers fade, they transform into fluffy, silvery seed heads that look like whimsical wigs! - Even though it looks delicate, this tough plant can sprout its vibrant purple blooms when there's still snow! - If eaten, the raw plant can cause skin irritation or an upset tummy, so best to just admire it! - Its name 'Pasqueflower' comes from 'Pasche,' meaning Easter, as it blooms around spring! ## Special abilities - **Furry Protector:** Greater Pasqueflower has a dense coat of fine hairs that helps it stay warm and protect its delicate parts from early spring frosts. - **Early Bird Bloomer:** Greater Pasqueflower can emerge and bloom very early in spring, taking advantage of sunlight before trees leaf out. - **Herbivore Repellent:** Greater Pasqueflower has natural toxins that make it unappetizing or harmful to most animals, helping it defend against grazing. - **Windy Traveler:** Greater Pasqueflower has fluffy, feathery seed heads that help its seeds catch the wind and travel far to new places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-25 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — collects nectar and pollen from its early blooms - **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted by its vibrant flowers in early spring - **Pollinates:** Early Mining Bee (*Andrena haemorrhoa*) — a common early-season bee visiting spring flowers ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Greater Pasqueflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Greater Pasqueflower? 15-30 cm ### How wide does Greater Pasqueflower spread? 15-25 cm ### How big are the flowers on Greater Pasqueflower? 4-8 cm ### When does Greater Pasqueflower bloom? Early spring ### Is Greater Pasqueflower edible? No ### Is Greater Pasqueflower toxic? Moderate ### What is Greater Pasqueflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Greater Pasqueflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-pasqueflower)