Grecian windflower is a herbaceous tuberous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to southeastern Europe and the Middle East. The Genus name is Greek for 'daughter of the wind'. The specific epithet means "mild, pleasing or charming". They grow 6 inches high and wide and should be planted in autumn in partially shady areas with moist well-drained soil. Planting under deciduous trees gives it the ideal setting for sun and moisture. It can grow in full sun if kept moist during fall and spring and dry in summer. The plant dies down by early summer. They will spread to form clumps and can be divided as needed. The large flowers appear in early spring and are an intense shade of purple-blue but also come in shades of pink and white. Flowering lasts for 4 weeks in April-May. They easily naturalize in ideal conditions. Use Grecian windflowers in rock gardens, under trees or shrubs, in a woodland setting, in border fronts or containers. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Cutworms and the larvae of some moths will damage foliage. Root rot can occur in too wet soils.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Whorled
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Reniform
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The compound fern-like leaves are in a basal whorl, are finely divided and deeply cut with toothed margins.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Umbel
Flower shape
Cup; Radial
Flower detail
Flowers bloom in April-May. They are mainly purple-blue but also pink and white and cup-shaped with 7 to 14 sepals and many stamens. Occur in clusters.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
This plant has small oval fruits that do not split open
Poisonous through ingestion and dermatitis. Symptoms may include: Inflammation and blistering upon contact with fresh sap. Ingestion of large amounts causes irritation of mouth, vomiting and diarrhea.