We found Pulsatilla campanella growing abundantly above Almaty (and elsewhere) in the tundra of the Tian Shan the last two years: we obtained quite a bit of seed and have shared this with several growers. The plants we saw resembled your's...it is interesting to compare it with the attached Pulsatilla, which I obtained under a different name (and which is probably NOT campanella) but has the same lovely nodding habit...
I once grew a gorgeous, huge flowered nodding Pulsatilla under the name of ambigua which I have never seen again (things I grow under this name have never been the same luminous, hairy russet red)...the only other nodding pulsatilla I've grown is the rather gloomy European Pulsatilla pratensis: I suspect there are many more...
Beautiful soft blue-green color on that one Panayoti! I don't know the genus very well, but I was taken with a couple very large plants in Peter George's rock garden, most imposing and showy overall, although the flowers themselves are subtle. First a view of the plant in flower on 05-07-2010.
And the following two views of the plant in seed (also lovely) two weeks later on 05-21-2010.
Certainly a robust plant...and the flower color IS subtle Mark. A gentle way of saying ugly? Not all pulsatillas are created equal! They are certainly one of my favorite groups...although the seed from the exchanges has a disconcerting habit of turning repeatedly into yet another variant on Pulsatilla vulgaris (not a tragedy: that is a great plant)...
Mark, what species is it that you are showing in Peter George's rock garden?
Here are some more photos of P. campanella. [EDIT: THIS IS NOT P. CAMPANELLA. WILL POST SPECIES NAME WHEN DETERMINED. EDIT: IT IS ACTUALLY PULSATILLA BUNGEANA... now, how to fix all the internet references to these misID'd plants?] It's remained a puny little thing (in my benign neglect) but it's pretty when it's in bloom.
The cycle from emergence...
Pretty little thing. I like your crevice garden Lori, one of these days I shall have a go at building one. Having said that I've been going to make some fishbox troughs (Ian Young style) for the last seven years and haven't done it yet. :-[
Mark, what species is it that you are showing in Peter George's rock garden?
Here are some more photos of P. campanella. It's remained a puny little thing (in my benign neglect) but it's pretty when it's in bloom.
As Peter recalled, it was P. campanella. Whether it is true or not, or some other species, that is certainly a possibility. I like your small plant identified as P. campanella; attractive through the seasons of growth.
The plants shown in this thread by both Todd and by me are actually Pulsatilla bungeana. It has been sold and passed around under the mistaken name of "Pulsatilla campanella" although that is a very different plant.
The photos shown by Panayoti of P. campanella in the wild are, of course, correct for the species.
Comments
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Sun, 05/23/2010 - 5:33pmWay to go! It is a sweet one, isn't it?
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Sun, 02/13/2011 - 7:22pmWe found Pulsatilla campanella growing abundantly above Almaty (and elsewhere) in the tundra of the Tian Shan the last two years: we obtained quite a bit of seed and have shared this with several growers. The plants we saw resembled your's...it is interesting to compare it with the attached Pulsatilla, which I obtained under a different name (and which is probably NOT campanella) but has the same lovely nodding habit...
I once grew a gorgeous, huge flowered nodding Pulsatilla under the name of ambigua which I have never seen again (things I grow under this name have never been the same luminous, hairy russet red)...the only other nodding pulsatilla I've grown is the rather gloomy European Pulsatilla pratensis: I suspect there are many more...
Mark McDonough
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Sun, 02/13/2011 - 9:16pmBeautiful soft blue-green color on that one Panayoti! I don't know the genus very well, but I was taken with a couple very large plants in Peter George's rock garden, most imposing and showy overall, although the flowers themselves are subtle. First a view of the plant in flower on 05-07-2010.
And the following two views of the plant in seed (also lovely) two weeks later on 05-21-2010.
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 5:49amCertainly a robust plant...and the flower color IS subtle Mark. A gentle way of saying ugly? Not all pulsatillas are created equal! They are certainly one of my favorite groups...although the seed from the exchanges has a disconcerting habit of turning repeatedly into yet another variant on Pulsatilla vulgaris (not a tragedy: that is a great plant)...
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Fri, 02/18/2011 - 11:29amMark, what species is it that you are showing in Peter George's rock garden?
Here are some more photos of

P. campanella. [EDIT: THIS IS NOTP. CAMPANELLA. WILL POST SPECIES NAME WHEN DETERMINED. EDIT: IT IS ACTUALLY PULSATILLA BUNGEANA... now, how to fix all the internet references to these misID'd plants?] It's remained a puny little thing (in my benign neglect) but it's pretty when it's in bloom.The cycle from emergence...
To blooming (by late May)... to blown...

deesen (not verified)
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Fri, 02/18/2011 - 11:42amPretty little thing. I like your crevice garden Lori, one of these days I shall have a go at building one. Having said that I've been going to make some fishbox troughs (Ian Young style) for the last seven years and haven't done it yet. :-[
Mark McDonough
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Fri, 02/18/2011 - 7:25pmAs Peter recalled, it was P. campanella. Whether it is true or not, or some other species, that is certainly a possibility. I like your small plant identified as P. campanella; attractive through the seasons of growth.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Pulsatilla campanella
Fri, 02/18/2011 - 9:10pmI always forget how variable plants can be!
EDIT: Or how often misidentified! ;-)
Lori S. (not verified)
The plants shown in this
Thu, 06/20/2019 - 8:48amThe plants shown in this thread by both Todd and by me are actually Pulsatilla bungeana. It has been sold and passed around under the mistaken name of "Pulsatilla campanella" although that is a very different plant.
The photos shown by Panayoti of P. campanella in the wild are, of course, correct for the species.