[11] After blooming the fertilized flowers will develop dry fruits called achenes with a feather like "tail" 20–40 mm long[10] formed from the growing styles.

The basal leaves are divided into three parts (ternately compound) with each leaflet also subdivided so the end segments are 2–4 mm wide.

[12] It was first formally named in 1817 as Anemone nuttalliana[13] by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in Regni vegetabilis systema naturale.

[14][15] In 1823 it was reclassified as Pulsatilla nuttalliana by Friedrich von Berchtold and Jan Svatopluk Presl in O Prirozenosti Rostlin aneb rostlinar.

[21] Older common names used prior to the 1920s for the species include "hartshorn-plant", "gosling", "prairie smoke", and simply "crocus".

They will also grow in human created habitats like clearcut areas, roadsides, and the edges of gravel pits.

[5][24] Pulsatilla nuttalliana is widely distributed in North America from Alaska and Nunavut in Canada to Ontario and all the western provinces.

[16] In the United States they grow from Idaho to Wisconsin and south to Utah, Colorado, and parts of New Mexico.

[1] Pulsatilla nuttalliana is cross-pollinated by many insects including honeybees, solitary mining bees in andrenidae, bumblebees, and hover flies.

[12] The prairie pasqueflower is rarely grown in gardens as an ornamental flower and is frequently confused with the commonly-grown European species, Pulsatilla vulgaris.

[27] Seed that has been dry-stored for some months will require a cool moist stratification for 60 days and then sprout at temperatures of 18 to 21°C.

Pasqueflowers are also propagated vegetatively for gardens or habitat restoration by taking 2–4 cm root cuttings and planting them in well drained potting mediums.

[9] Good drainage is of critical importance for the health of prairie pasqueflower plants grown in gardens.

[9] In areas with cool summers such as mountain habitats and the northern prairies full sun is required.