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Dusky pink nodding bells
Perennial wildflower

Prairie Smoke

Geum triflorum

Nodding pink spring bells that turn into smoky, feathered seed plumes — the show after the flower.

the Midwestthe Great Plainsthe Mountain Westthe Great Basinthe Pacific Northwest

Growing Prairie Smoke

A low, early native for sharp-drained, sunny ground and rock gardens. The wispy pink seed heads are the real spectacle. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and showy.

Where it grows

Prairie Smoke is native to the Midwest. In the wild you’ll find it across Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky and 21 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.

Regional Garden shows Prairie Smoke on 31 state pages.

Good for

PollinatorsFor beesDeer-resistantFull sunDrought-tolerantGroundcovers
Sourcing

Where to buy Prairie Smoke

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.

Plant it with

Companions & kin.

Natives that share Prairie Smoke’s range and conditions.

Perennial wildflower

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

A near-continental native with flat flower heads that feed tiny beneficial insects, tough as a weed.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms May–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Airy white bells in early summer, a bridge bloom between spring ephemerals and the summer prairie.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms May–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Pasque Flower

Pulsatilla patens

One of the very first prairie flowers, silky purple cups pushing up through cold early-spring ground.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 6–12 in
  • Blooms Mar–Apr