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Meadow Anemone

Pulsatilla vulgaris (pul-sa-TIL-uh vul-GAIR-iss)

Family: Ranunculaceae Non-native Herbaceous

Anemone pulsatilla is a perennial herb that is best grown in fertile, humusy soil. Plants need constant moisture in hot summer temperatures. Best performance is seen in cooler temperatures where plants can tolerate less humid conditoins. Plants are best left undisturbed once established. This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Found in: Landscape in flower gardens The purple flowers resemble Clematis spp.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 41 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Clematis
Fills a similar niche Anemone blanda Anemone hortensis 'St Bavo' Viola sororia

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Poisonous; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Whorled
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
This plant has a rosette of finely-divided, stalked leaves, covered with silky hairs (furry). The leaves are fern-like, alternate or whorled, and are attractive even when plant is not flowering.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This plant has 1.5-in. flowers borne singly on 5 to 8 in. stalks, with three sessile deeply-cut leaflets or bracts. Sepals are dull violet-purple; very silky on the under surfaces. Flowers are showy are singular pale or dark violet, rarely white, cup- or bell-shaped with 5-many petal-like parts and many stamens. Flowers are followed by equally-ornamental, plume-like seedheads (reminiscent of some clematis) in fluffy spherical clusters.
Fruit detail
Flowers are followed by equally-ornamental, plume-like seedheads (reminiscent of some clematis) in fluffy spherical clusters.
Stem detail
This plant has hairy stems that emerge first in the spring.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, southwestern Asia
Food & Medicine

Uses (ethnobotany)

Can be used as an herbal medicine.

Landscape Use
Garden tags
#showy flowers #violet #full sun tolerant #poisonous #purple #purple flowers #violet flowers #white flowers #spring flowers #dry soils tolerant #cutting garden #partial shade tolerant #perennial
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans
Resistant to
Diseases; Dry Soil; Insect Pests
Particularly resistant to
dry soil, no serious insect or disease problems
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! Poisonous through ingestion and dermatitis. (Poisonous parts: All parts when fresh). Symptoms may include: Inflammation and blistering upon contact with fresh sap; irritation of mouth, vomiting and diarrhea following ingestion.
Toxic principle
Protoanemonin
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.