Native Plants to Know: Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Multiple red flowers bloom in an open meadow. Green foliage rises from the base of flowers. Spruce trees are seen in the background.

Written by Eric Puetz, Research Associate with the Native Plant Initiative, under the direction and review of Lora Perkins, Associate Professor, in the Native Plant Initiative and the SDSU Department of Natural Resource Management; Robin Buterbaugh, Amanda Bachmann, and Kristine Lang.

Geum triflorum or Prairie Smoke (Rosaceae) is a flowering, herbaceous (non-woody stem) perennial, native to North American prairies. This widespread species is most easily identified due to the distinctive nodding and wispy flowers that resemble plumes of smoke. This species starts flowering in the early spring and has a widespread range that extends from central to northern North America.

Plant Profile

The bright red, nodding flowers are typically in groups of three and remain closed until pollination (Figure 2). Following pollination by bees, a 1 to 3 inch-long feathery, female reproductive structure (style) elongates from the future seed, forming the characteristic wispy crimson or reddish plumes of Geum triflorum (Figure 3) Fertilized flowers contain many single-seeded fruits (achenes). Geum triflorum blooms from early spring through mid-summer. Its foliage includes low-growing, fern-like leaves that branch into smaller leaflets. This species grows from 6 to 18 inches tall and can slowly spread via seed or horizontal underground stems (rhizomes).

Unfertilized Flower

Three, drooping, red fuzzy flowers on a stem with a green leafy background and blue sky. — Figure 2. Nodding, unfertilized heads of Geum triflorum in a group of three. Black Hills National Forest. (Courtesy: Eric Puetz)

Fertilized Flower

Numerous red, fuzzy, flowers in an open alpine meadow with green forest in the background. Blue sky and dark clouds hang above the tree line. — Figure 3. Striking plumes of fertilized and nodding unfertilized flowers of Geum triflorum in an alpine meadow. Black Hills National Forest. (Courtesy: Eric Puetz)

In Your Garden

This species, which is characteristic of native upland prairies, adds a bright pop of color to well-drained gardens with full sun and provides nectar and pollen to pollinators in the early spring. After prairie smoke has bloomed in spring, the spreading leaves double as ground cover. This native species provides a great addition to focal garden spaces and is right at home with common spring flowering bulbs.