Pulsatilla, Official (Anemone pulsatilla) seeds, organic
Price range: $4.95 through $49.10
Family: Crowfoot (Ranunculaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 9
(Wind Flower, Pasque Flower) Herbaceous perennial. Native to Europe. The plant is diminutive but brazen, sending up large, showy purple flowers early in the spring, before most plants are half awake, giving way to upright, feathery seedheads straight out of Dr. Suess. Traditional usage (TWM): nervous disorders, shock, menopause, PMS, insomnia. A classic low-dose botanical, the plant is acrid and should be treated with great respect. Plant prefers full sun to part shade and dryish, well-drained soils. Thick bark mulches are helpful. We provide seed from the new harvest only, as seed has short life span. Strew seed on moist medium, barely cover with soil, tamp securely, keep cool and moist, and expect germination in 30 to 90 days. Very slow going at first, which is typical with seed of plants that are themselves long-lived. In the case of Pulsatilla, I have 15-year-old plants that are going strong. The clump enlarges every year, self-mulching with its own leaf detritus.
Packet contains 30 seeds
1 g contains ~400 seeds
5 g contains ~ 2,000 seeds
10 g contains ~4,000 seeds
Certified Organically Grown (seed has been rubbed to divest it of the feathery aril)
Deena –
I grew these from seed many years ago and now am getting more as we move to a new farm/home! I remember about 25 years ago, an herbalist recommended what I have in my mind was the ROOT as an acrid tea for my BF at the time at the very onset of debilitating migraines. He would do that, sleep for a little while and wake up good as new! It was life changing for him but I’ve never been able to find more info about it! Does this sound familiar?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Deena, Thanks for bringing up this lovely herb. You’re right, older plants don’t transplant well, so it makes sense to start it again from seed. I did this myself, also, this spring and it was a glad experience–a few weeks left outdoors in the cold in the flat, brought into the greenhouse, absolutely nothing for 2 weeks, then like magic, the characteristic seedlings all popped up. Migraine is one of the indications for homeopathic pulsatilla, which as you know is a very weak preparation of the mother tincture, so an herbalist’s recommendation of weak tea for your BF does not sound too much out of line. Yes, it is generally the root that is used. I remember Michael Moore (rest his soul) said something related about it, that it brings the spirit back down into the body after shock. Calling home the tweety birds. Hope that helps. Richo
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Michelle Hughes (verified owner) –
So wonderful! We grew these from seed last year and they just flowered (late April in zone 5b). They are so beautiful I almost don’t want to harvest them for medicine. As mentioned in the description, they are very slow growing but we now have 3 solid plants that made it through the winter and I’m hoping they continue to spread. Many thanks!
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Richo Cech –
hi michelle,good work, these are not that easy. i’m pleased to report that our planting of pulsatilla worked very well this spring, too, a good example of holding the flat for a few weeks outdoors and then bringing into greenhouse to germ. I think you’ll find that once they go once to flower they are very hard to stop, they will very likely continue to flower on an ongoing basis. the medicine is so low-dose and potent that you don’t need to sacrifice much of the plant to have plenty. r
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Alanna –
hello there! I live in western MA and would have these in containers. Would you recommend direct seeding in Fall and letting them overwinter outside, or starting indoors in spring and transplanting out?
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Richo Cech –
hi alanna, they don’t need an extensive period of cold conditioning. These work best when planted in flats outdoors in late winter and brought into the greenhouse for germination. richo
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Sharon –
I have a nice stand of these planted about 10 yrs ago and they do spread slowly. Are such a joy every Spring!
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Michelle Hughes (verified owner) –
So wonderful! We grew these from seed last year and they just flowered (late April in zone 5b). They are so beautiful I almost don’t want to harvest them for medicine. As mentioned in the description, they are very slow growing but we now have 3 solid plants that made it through the winter and I’m hoping they continue to spread. Many thanks!
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Question
Phyllis (verified owner) –
Is it okay to plant right now, in zone 7 (NE Oklahoma)? Do they have to be planted outside or can they be started in trays? Thank you Sorry I errantly posted this under a comment.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Phyllis, yes, I personally start these around now into march in deep flats left outside. something magical about that frost and then spring rain, they need that stimulation to germ. r
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Michelle Robson-Garth (verified owner) –
Seeds germinated very well, you just need a little patience. I planted these last year and this year and I had germination both times. This year I sowed them in a shady part of my garden, I sowed some on 04/08/18 (Autumn) and then more on at the start of October (mid-spring here in Melbourne, Australia) . They have steadily been sprouting since 21st of October, but I would say it two and a bit months for them to germinate. Will post again when they are bigger and have hopefully survived.
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