The genus Pulsatilla contains about 40 species of herbaceous perennial plants native to meadows and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Several species are valued ornamentals because of their finely-dissected leaves, solitary bell-shaped flowers, and plumed seed heads.

[5] Morphologically, Pulsatilla can be distinguished from Anemone by the long hairy beak on the achenes formed by the persistent style and stamens.

[7] As of March 2024[update], many sources, such as Plants of the World Online and the Flora of Korea, support the treatment of Pulsatilla as a distinct genus.

[1][8] As of March 2024[update], Plants of the World Online listed the following species in the genus Pulsatilla:[1] Plants of the World Online also listed a number of named hybrids:[1] Pulsatilla nuttalliana (as the synonym P. patens) is the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada[9] and (as the synonym P. hirsutissima) the state flower of the US state of South Dakota.