Pulsatilla hallerii

One of the rarest, earliest and most exquisite spring flowers.

Sumptuous nodding lavender goblets arise on felted stems from a veil of silky hairs amidst filigree fern-like leaves. An utterly hardy and reliable plant which will improve as it ages over the years!

P. halleri is generally considered a more alpine, compact, and much hairier species compared to P. vulgaris, often blooming earlier or with more intense, deep violet, less bell-shaped flowers. 

From the Sub-alpine and alpine regions of southern France, southern Switzerland, northern Italy and Poland, extending eastward to Greece, Bulgaria and Ukraine. It is found in mountain meadows, dry hills, dry grassy locations and mountainous forest glades, so an open sunny spot is a must. Award of Garden Merit (A.G.M.) from the Royal Horticultural Society. 25cm in flower or seeding.

Easy to establish in the garden from borders to containers and rock gardens, seeds happily and will come true if colours and species are separated. Good drainage and sun is needed. Surprisingly tolerant of drought. Don't let this little (atm) tyreasure get swamped though.  Hardy. 30-50cm H when in seed.

From NARGS: Pulsatiulla halleri, in all its very variable forms, is among the most beautiful of an outstanding genus. I’ve grown several of this pasque flower under differing names over the years, some perhaps dubiously distinct from others.

Indeed, some may have been hybrids with the common pasque flower, or with P. grandis, but what does that matter if they are special? All have been easy, long-lived plants, flowering before any others in my garden, usually at their best in mid-March.

Anna reg, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons