Pulsatilla alpina

Perennial of the Ranunculaceae family, found in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, from the Alps to the Carpathians and the Apennines, as well as in the Pyrenees. It frequents open alpine meadows, grassy slopes, and edges of tall herb communities, generally between 1,400 and 2,800 meters in altitude, on varied substrates depending on the subspecies.

It forms upright clumps 20 to 30 cm in height at flowering, possibly reaching more in fruiting. The leaves are highly divided, finely pinnate, medium green, covered with a characteristic silky pubescence, particularly visible on young spring shoots.

The flowers are solitary, upright, with six widely open tepals, white, often slightly tinged with pink or bluish on the outer face, with a very dense and bright yellow stamen heart. After flowering, the achenes extend into long silver plumes that persist for several weeks, constituting a second moment of interest equally remarkable. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on altitude and exposure.

In cultivation, it requires well-drained, humus-rich soil, in full sun or light partial shade.