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Prairie smoke, Geum triflorum
What a show! After blooming in May and June, the nodding stems turn upright to display funky pink feathery seedheads reminiscent of smoke. They can be dried for decoration.
Prairie smoke grows to a maximum of 40 cm in height and is perfect for the front of your bed.
The plant is deer resistant and spreads slowly by rhizomes.
Ecology:
Prairie smoke is an important early season nectar and pollen plant for bumblebee queens. They efficiently buzz pollinate the flowers by shaking their flight muscles at a high frequency to dislodge pollen, which then drizzles down onto the queens.
Growing conditions:
Prairie smoke requires full sun and can grow in any soil, including sand and gravel. In the wild, it is found in upland prairies and alvars, which are limestone plains with minimal soil cover. Therefore, it is suitable for rock gardens and well-drained, sunny, mesic to dry sites.
Prairie Smoke
40 cm great pollinator evergreen full sun buzz pollination early bloomer any soil nectar rock garden medium to dry pollen deer resistant Garden symphony:
Prairie smoke cannot withstand competition, so it is important to give it space. Some short companions are pussytoes, nodding onions and butterfly milkweed. In natural settings, it often grows with rough blazing star, downy phlox (Phlox pilosa) and rigid goldenrod. Other prairie plants that are adapted to dry summer conditions and pair well are greyheaded coneflower and little bluestem.