# prairie pasqueflower (*Pulsatilla nuttalliana*) The prairie pasqueflower is a beautiful flower that blooms in spring. Its soft, purple petals look like little cups and are often one of the first flowers to peek out after winter. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Easter Flower, Nuttall's Pasqueflower ![prairie pasqueflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pulsatilla_nuttalliana_Manitoba_May_2019.jpg&width=800) Photo: (c) Mary Krieger, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pulsatilla_nuttalliana_Manitoba_May_2019.jpg) ## Appearance The prairie pasqueflower has deeply cut, fuzzy leaves and striking, upright, bell-shaped flowers. These blooms range from lavender to deep purple, often appearing before the plant's full foliage, standing out against the bare ground with their characteristic hairy texture. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Pulsatilla ## Interesting facts - After blooming, its seeds grow feathery 'tails' that help them spin and drill into the soil! - The name 'Pasqueflower' comes from 'Pasque,' meaning Easter, as it often blooms around that time! - This tough little plant is one of the very first to bloom, sometimes even poking through snow! - Wow! Its flowers are like tiny solar panels, turning to follow the sun across the sky! ## Special abilities - **Frost Guard:** prairie pasqueflower has fuzzy hairs that insulate it from cold winds and frost, letting it bloom super early! - **Spring Pioneer:** prairie pasqueflower can emerge and bloom very early, grabbing sunlight before other plants leaf out. - **Deep Drinker:** prairie pasqueflower has a long taproot that helps it find precious water deep in dry prairie soils. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Carlin's Mining Bee (*Andrena carlini*) — early spring bee that collects its pollen - **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-banded Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-banded-bumble-bee) (*Bombus terricola*) — important early season pollinator of the plant ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [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. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't pick flowers without asking an adult, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify prairie 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 prairie pasqueflower? 10-40 cm ### How wide does prairie pasqueflower spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on prairie pasqueflower? 3-8 cm ### When does prairie pasqueflower bloom? Early Spring ### Is prairie pasqueflower edible? No ### Is prairie pasqueflower toxic? Mild ### What is prairie pasqueflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/d-c-booth-historic-national-fish-hatchery) — South Dakota, US · Aquarium - [Danebod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/danebod) — Minnesota, US · Historic District - [Echo Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/echo-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgetown-silver-plume-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see prairie pasqueflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/prairie-pasqueflower) ## 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: [Prairie Pasqueflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prairie-pasqueflower)