Prairie Smoke

Prairie smoke is a low, clump-forming perennial of the open prairies and dry meadows of North America. In spring it bears nodding, urn-shaped reddish-pink flowers, but its real fame comes afterward, when the seed heads elongate into wispy, plume-like tufts that shimmer across a hillside like drifting smoke.

A tough, long-lived plant, it forms tidy mounds of soft fern-like foliage and is a favorite for rock gardens and native plantings where its unusual seed display can be appreciated up close.

• Flowers: Nodding, urn- or bell-shaped, dusky pink to maroon, usually in groups of three on a single stalk.
• Seed heads: The signature feature — upright clusters of feathery, pinkish-gray styles 2-5 cm long resembling tufts of smoke or whiskers.
• Leaves: Fern-like, deeply divided, soft and hairy, forming a basal rosette.
• Height: Low, typically 15-40 cm tall, taller in fruit.
• Habit: Mat-forming clump that spreads slowly by rhizomes.

Light: Full sun gives the best form and seed display; tolerates light shade.

Water: Drought-tolerant once established; dislikes soggy soil.

Soil: Lean, well-drained, even gravelly soils; resents heavy wet clay.

Temperature: Very cold-hardy, suited to northern prairie climates.

Feeding: None needed; rich soil produces floppy growth.

Propagation: Sow seed (cold stratification helps) or divide clumps in spring or early fall.

Native to much of central and western North America, from the prairies of the Great Plains north into Canada and west to the Rockies. It grows in dry prairies, open meadows, rocky slopes, and well-drained grasslands.

In cultivation it is prized in native plant gardens, rock gardens, and water-wise landscapes across temperate regions with sufficient winter cold.