Spring Pasque Flower
EN

Spring Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla vernalis

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsatilla_vernalis

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Spring Pasque Flower faces severe decline across its European range due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and abandonment of traditional grazing practices that maintained open grassland conditions. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable alpine and subalpine habitats to higher elevations, reducing available habitat area. Urban development and recreational activities in mountain regions further fragment remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

Spring Pasque Flower inhabits alpine and subalpine grasslands, typically on calcareous soils between 1,000-3,000 meters elevation. The species requires well-drained, nutrient-poor soils in open meadows and slopes that are maintained by traditional grazing or natural disturbance.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Spring Pasque Flower classified as Endangered?
Spring Pasque Flower is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Spring Pasque Flower faces severe decline across its European range due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and abandonment of traditional grazing practices that maintained open grassland conditions. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable alpine and subalpine habitats to higher elevations, reducing available habitat area. Urban development and recreational activities in mountain regions further fragment remaining populations.
Where does Spring Pasque Flower live?
Spring Pasque Flower occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Spring Pasque Flower?
The main threats to Spring Pasque Flower are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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