Pasque Flower Pulsatilla Hirsutissima
The Pasque Flower is one of the earliest spring blossoms, as is indicated by the name which is from the French for Easter. The word “Pulsatilla” means wind flower and indicates its relationship to the anemones. The color of the flower ranges from whitish through pale blue or pink to purple. By the end of spring, the flowers have all developed into beautiful feathery clusters of fruits, very like those of the Clematis. The plants are 6-15 in. high and densely covered with fuzzy white hairs. They occur abundantly on plains and foothills and in mountain meadows at 4000-10000 ft. The Pasque Flower is the state flower of South Dakota and is sometimes cultivated in gardens.