The pasque flower is the official state flower of South Dakota — a lavender, cup-shaped bloom that is among the very first to appear each spring.

• Official flower: Pasque flower
• Scientific name: Pulsatilla hirsutissima
• Year adopted: 1903
• Native range: the northern Great Plains

About the pasque flower

South Dakota adopted the pasque flower in 1903, along with the motto “I Lead,” a nod to its early bloom. Wrapped in silky hairs that protect it from the cold, the flower pushes up through the prairie while snow may still linger.

Where it grows

The pasque flower grows on the prairies and hillsides of the northern Great Plains, including across South Dakota, blooming in very early spring.

South Dakota state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of South Dakota?

South Dakota’s state flower is the pasque flower (Pulsatilla hirsutissima), which it adopted in 1903.

When did South Dakota adopt its state flower?

South Dakota designated the pasque flower as its official state flower in 1903.

When does the pasque flower bloom?

The pasque flower is one of the earliest wildflowers of the year, blooming in very early spring, sometimes while snow is still on the ground.

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