Bloomipedia
White pasqueflower (Pulsatilla occidentalis)
Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

White pasqueflower

Pulsatilla occidentalis

White pasqueflower (Pulsatilla occidentalis) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

White pasqueflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

5states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
6,013U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Montana, Washington

Quick look

Pulsatilla occidentalis, synonym Anemone occidentalis, the white pasqueflower or western pasqueflower, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Individuals are 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) tall, from caudices, with three to six leaves at the base of the plant that are 3-foliolate, each leaflet pinnatifid to dissected in shape. Leaf petioles are 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) long.

  • It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington and Montana. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,673 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #45 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 650 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #65 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (296 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeJune–August3,673
MontanaNativefew records (24)650

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records white pasqueflower in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Jefferson, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Whatcom, Yakima.

Montana counties with USDA records: Judith Basin.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Anemone occidentalis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 39 counties across 4 states; the most are in California (13), Oregon (13), Washington (12).

Other Pulsatilla on Bloomipedia (1): Prairie pasqueflower.

More from the Ranunculaceae family (48 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Western columbine, Marsh marigold, White baneberry, Round-lobed hepatica.

More Washington flowers

Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

Creeping buttercup

Ranunculus repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–June
Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa)

Western columbine

Aquilegia formosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Sources