The pasque flowers are a delight in the spring, with their multiply dissected leaves and large, silky flowers. These come in a variety of colours, but always have the colour of the petals (strictly tepals) repeated in the stigma, with these two areas of matching colour separated by a ring of bright yellow stamens. Flowers are followed by wonderful fluffy seeds. They are all excellent plants for a rock garden or raised bed. It is said that they resent being moved, but also that they can be propagated by root cuttings! Take your pick: my advice is to leave them alone.

Pulsatilla rubra has, as its name implies, red flowers, and as is usual in the genus, the central cone carrying the stigma is colour coordinated with the petals, with the yellow stamens making a colourful contrast. The leaves, multiply divided to give a feathery appearance, are bright green.