Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke)
Prairie Smoke, Grandfather's Beard, Lion's Beard, Old Man's Whiskers, Purple Avens, Torch Flower, Long-Plumed Purple Avens
A very distinctive prairie plant, Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) features purple to reddish-pink, nodding, bowl-shaped flowers in late spring which are followed by interesting seed heads with elongated styles, 2 in. long (5 cm), forming upright, silvery pink tails. Resembling plumes of smoke, hovering close to the ground, they are ready to be caught by the wind or a passing animal to be dispersed across the landscape. The flowers rise enthusiastically above a foliage of fern-like, deeply-divided, blue-green leaves, that remains attractive during the entire season. Sometimes evergreen, the foliage features a lovely fall coloration as its turns deep red in fall. This rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial forms slowly-spreading clumps and can be naturalized to form a lovely ground cover.
- Prairie Smoke grows 6-18 in. tall (15-45 cm) and 6-12 in. wide (15-30 cm).
- Winner of the GreatPlants award, which is a joint effort between the Nebraska Nursery, Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
- Prefers full sun and enjoys dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade and is drought tolerant once established.
- Excellent choice for borders, gravel and rock gardens, prairies and meadows and cottage gardens.
- Hardy and low maintenance, Prairie Smoke is deer resistant, but attracts butterflies.
- No serious pest or disease issues. May be affected by rot if soils are poorly drained.
- Native to North America from northern Canada to California and east to New York.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 10 |
Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Geum - Avens |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) Fall |
Height | 6" – 2' (15cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm) |
Spacing | 6" – 12" (15cm – 30cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, New York, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
123RF Stock Photo
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 10 |
Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Geum - Avens |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) Fall |
Height | 6" – 2' (15cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm) |
Spacing | 6" – 12" (15cm – 30cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, New York, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |