common name:
Prairie smoke
|
scientific name:
Geum
triflorum
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) transitioning from nodding pink spring blooms to its signature feathery seed heads that resemble drifting smoke in the Backyard Farmer Garden, April 2026.
Image Creadit:
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) is a distinctive native perennial prized for its unique seasonal interest and adaptability to dry prairie conditions. In early to mid-spring, it produces nodding, pinkish-red flowers with elongated sepals that give the plant a soft, textured appearance. As the blooms fade, they give way to feathery, plume-like seed heads that resemble wisps of smoke drifting above the foliage, one of the plant’s most recognizable and ornamental features.
Charecteristics
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones:
3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7
Water Needs:
Dry
Space Requirements:
12 inches – 3 feet
Height Requirements:
Less than 2 feet
Spread Requirements:
1–2 feet
Bloom Color:
Pink
Bloom Time:
Spring
Leaf Color:
Green
Wildlife Attraction:
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance:
Deer
Uses:
Ground Cover
Varieties