Simcoe County Master Gardeners
Grow Natives!
PLANT PROFILE
COMMON NAME: Prairie Smoke, Grandpa’s Whiskers
BINOMIAL: Geum triflorum
| Family | Rosaceae (Rose family) |
| Cdn Native Range | Widely distributed across all provinces from Ontario westward |
| Natural habitat | dry open woods, prairies, open slopes and meadows |
| Type | herbaceous perennial |
| Features | nodding, pink flowers rise above fern-like leaves; when flowers fade, wispy seed heads form upright, feathery gray tails resembling a feather duster |
| Growth habit | will maintain a nice clumping form; flowers are five white – pink petals mostly hidden under reddish-pink sepals; self-seeding is not a problem |
| Mature height | 15–45 cm (0.5 – 1.5 ft) |
| Mature spread | 15–25 cm (0.5 – 1.0 ft) |
| Life span | perennial |
| Cdn Hardiness Zone | 3–7 |
| Growing conditions | full sun to part shade |
| Soil conditions | well drained barren soil that is rocky, gravelly or sandy |
| Watering needs | dry to moist; will not tolerate wet soil |
| Fertilizer needs | n/a |
| Tolerance | drought, dry soil |
| Maintenance rank | low |
| Maintenance needs | none |
| Bloom | blooms in May – June; showy reddish pink to purple flowers barely open even when in full bloom; flowers develop into very showy seed heads; fragrant |
| Fruit | seed heads are very showy |
| Pollinator support | provides an early-season buffet for bumblebees |
| Environmental support | host plant for moth, Tinagma obscurofasciella; provides early nectar for bumblebees who are strong enough to force their way into the flowers |
| Garden Use | sunny boarder or pathway |
| Risks & Cautions | root rot can in poorly drained soils, particularly in winter; do not crowd it with taller perennials |
References: Rick Gray and Shaun Booth. The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx
Photo Credits:
Prairie Smoke – Seed Heads (Photo credit: Matt Lavin, Openverse)
Prairie Smoke – flowers and seed heads (photo credit: USFWS Mountain Prairie, flickr)
Prairie Smoke – flowers (Photo credit: Jay Sturner, Flickr)
