Narrow-leaf pasque-flower
Pulsatilla cernua, family Ranunculaceae
A bell-shaped wildflower with dark red-purple blooms and silky hairs
Narrow-leaf pasque-flower is a perennial plant found in East Asia, especially in grassy mountain slopes of Japan, China, Korea, and parts of Russia. Its bell-like flowers are dark red to purple, covered in fine white hairs, and bloom in spring. The plant is valued in some regions for traditional herbal medicine.
- Blooms with dark red to purple, bell-shaped flowers in spring
- Native to Japan, China, Korea, and the Russian Far East
- Covered in long, silky white hairs
- Used in traditional Korean herbal medicine
What does Narrow-leaf pasque-flower look like?
This plant grows 15 to 45 cm tall and is covered in long, soft hairs. Its leaves are divided into several lobes and appear before the flowers fully open. The flowers are bell-shaped, with six reddish to dark purple sepals that are hairy on the outside. Yellow anthers fill the center. After flowering, it produces narrow, hairy fruits with a curved tip.
Where does Narrow-leaf pasque-flower come from?
Narrow-leaf pasque-flower grows wild in the eastern parts of Asia, including regions of Japan, China, Korea, and the Russian Far East. It prefers open, sunny slopes and low mountain areas with well-drained, sandy or loamy soil. The plant was originally placed in the genus Anemone but was later moved to Pulsatilla. Its classification has been debated, but it is now widely accepted as part of Pulsatilla.
When and how Narrow-leaf pasque-flower blooms
The plant blooms from April to May, with seeds ripening soon after. It grows from underground rhizomes and needs full sun to thrive, as it does not tolerate shade. Pulsatilla cernua is pollinated by insects and can grow in a range of soil types, including acidic, neutral, or alkaline, as long as the soil drains well.
How Narrow-leaf pasque-flower is used
In Korea, a variety of this plant is used in traditional herbal medicine. Most parts of the plant are not eaten, except for the roots and leaves. There is no mention of it being used for decoration or in gardens in the sources.
Kinds of Narrow-leaf pasque-flower
There are two main varieties: Pulsatilla cernua var. cernua, found in Jeju Province, Korea, and Pulsatilla cernua var. koreana, which is not found in Inner Mongolia or Japan. The varieties differ in the width of the smallest leaf segments.
What Narrow-leaf pasque-flower means
The plant is recognized for its role in traditional Korean medicine, especially the koreana variety. It is not listed as a national or regional emblem in the sources, nor is there mention of symbolic meaning or festival use.
Questions people ask about Narrow-leaf pasque-flower
Where does the narrow-leaf pasque-flower come from?
It is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, and parts of the Russian Far East, where it grows on sunny, grassy slopes and low mountains.
What does Pulsatilla cernua look like?
It is a small perennial with bell-shaped, dark red to purple flowers covered in fine white hairs. The plant has deeply divided leaves and grows up to 45 cm tall.
When does this plant flower?
It blooms in spring, usually from April to May, with seeds ripening soon after.
Is the narrow-leaf pasque-flower used for anything?
In Korea, a variety of this plant is used in traditional herbal medicine. Most parts are not eaten, except for the roots and leaves.
Are there different types of Pulsatilla cernua?
Yes, there are two main varieties, which differ in the width of their smallest leaf segments and where they are found.
Good reading and sources
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Pulsatilla cernua on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pulsatilla cernua", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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