Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
[JEE-um try-FLOOR-um]

Semi-Evergreen Perennial in the Rosaceae Family
One of the earliest prairie wildflowers to bloom, known for its nodding pink flowers and smoky, feathery seed heads.

Geum triflorum, Prairie Smoke, is a North American native found in dry, gravelly prairies and hill prairies, including scattered sites in northern Illinois. It forms a low rosette of fern-like, gray-green, hairy leaves and is among the earliest tallgrass-prairie wildflowers to bloom, sending up nodding, bell-shaped pink-to-red flowers in early spring. After bloom, the fused, feathery sepals elongate into smoky pink plumes that give the plant its common name, often persisting well into summer.

Pros

  • One of the earliest prairie wildflowers to bloom
  • Distinctive smoky, feathery seed heads
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Attracts early-season bumblebees

Cons

  • Slow to establish and spread
  • Needs sharp drainage; dislikes heavy, wet soil
Why Like

Prairie Smoke is a conservative species associated with high-quality, undisturbed prairie remnants, and one of the very first prairie wildflowers to bloom each year. Its nodding flowers depend on bumblebees — especially newly-emerged spring queens — for buzz pollination, since the fused sepals require force to access the nectar inside; a handful of other insects act as 'nectar thieves,' chewing openings to reach it without providing pollination service.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 18 inches tall. 6 - 10 inches wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 7b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Pollinators, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Rock Garden, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden
Bloom Period Early To Mid-Spring
Flower Color Pale Pink To Purplish-Red
Foliage Color Gray-Green
 

Awards
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Absolutely Easy Garden Recipes that include Prairie Smoke
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Pink Cotton Candy Wood Betony
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!