WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Pulsatilla vulgaris (Anemone pulsatilla), WUCOLS IV

How often to water pasque flower in California

In July in the Central Valley, established pasque flower in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Pasque flower is a low perennial with finely cut, silky-haired leaves and cup-shaped, violet-purple flowers in spring, followed by fluffy, feathery seedheads. It forms a small clump about 8 inches tall and dislikes being moved once settled. It needs very well-drained soil and full sun, with steady moisture through hot summer weather.

PerennialRated for 2 of 6 zones

How often to water pasque flower, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for pasque flower and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 2 inches down around a pasque flower clump in summer heat signals that it needs water
  • Leaves browning and flattening in a hot, dry spell show the plant has run short of moisture
  • A crown going soft and dark in soggy soil points to poor drainage, since it needs very well-drained ground
  • Ragged, chewed flowers point to slugs rather than thirst
  • Feathery seedheads after bloom are normal and ornamental, not a sign of decline

How to water it

  • Water at the edge of the clump rather than over the silky leaves
  • Moisten the top 6 to 8 inches of soil, then let the surface dry before watering again
  • Plant in full sun in gritty, very well-drained soil, such as a rock garden or raised bed
  • Top-dress around the crown with gravel so it stays dry while the roots below stay moist
  • Leave established clumps in place and water around them, since they resent being moved

Through the seasons

A new pasque flower can be slow to establish, so keep its soil evenly moist through the first year. Established clumps flower in spring, carry silky seedheads into summer and need steady moisture in hot weather. The leaves die back for winter. Rain usually supplies the cool months on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley, where drainage matters more than extra water. On the north-central coast and in the Central Valley, pasque flower carries a moderate water rating from WUCOLS. The south coast and South Inland are marked not suited. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the high desert or the low desert.

In pots

Pasque flower suits a deep pot or trough of gritty, free-draining mix in full sun. Check the mix an inch down every few days in summer and water when it dries. Let it drain fully, since soggy mix can rot the crown. Empty the saucer each time. A pot moved into afternoon shade during the hottest months holds moisture longer. In winter the plant dies back, so water only when the mix is nearly dry.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.671.32.02.70.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.671.32.02.70.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Pasque Flower: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.4––––
Feb0.530.65––––
Mar0.871.09––––
Apr1.181.52––––
May1.462.08––––
Jun1.612.48––––
Jul1.612.67––––
Aug1.492.39––––
Sep1.241.8––––
Oct0.871.18––––
Nov0.470.56––––
Dec0.310.34––––
Year1217.11––––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like pasque flower. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyDayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCalla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGarden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCarpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySnowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySwamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyOrange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGreater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than pasque flower in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyIrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyYarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPurple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCalifornia Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWoolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPerennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes pasque flower, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How much water does pasque flower need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established pasque flower needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for pasque flower change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates pasque flower separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is pasque flower poisonous?

Yes. All fresh parts are toxic, and the sap can blister skin. Wear gloves when handling it, and keep it away from children and pets.

Why is pasque flower hard to establish?

It resents disturbance and can be slow to settle. Plant it young in very well-drained soil and avoid moving it later. Keep the soil lightly moist through its first summer.

Should I deadhead pasque flower?

The feathery seedheads that follow the flowers are as ornamental as the blooms, so you can leave them. Remove them if you do not want seedlings. No other pruning is needed.

Can pasque flower take summer heat?

It performs best in cooler, less humid weather. In hot summers it needs constant moisture, so check the soil often. A spot with afternoon shade helps in warm areas.

When does pasque flower bloom?

It blooms in spring, with violet-purple flowers held just above the leaves on short stalks. Silky seedheads follow into summer.

More plant watering guides

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Sources