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Photo by Anna Kullgren

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Geum triflorum

Also Known As

Lion's Beard
Old Man's Whiskers
Prairie Smoke
Purple Avens

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 6"-18"
W: 6"-18"

planting zones

3a-9b

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Geum triflorum plant details

Geum triflorum is a broadleaf evergreen perennial with green foliage. In summer burgundy and yellow flowers emerge. Features fuzzy texture. Attracts butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and regular - occasional water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in alkaline, average, clay, gritty, lean, rich, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Geum triflorum

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: rosaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 6 IN - 18 IN - wide, 6 IN - 18 IN - tall
Flowers: burgundy and yellow blooms in summer
Uses: compact, rock garden, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Geum triflorum

USDA Zones: 3a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: regular - occasional
Resistant to: heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: alkaline, average, clay, gritty, lean, rich, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

North American native prairie plant, perennial with spreading rhizomes creates a nice patch of ferny foliage topped by nodding, globular flowers of apricot pink in late spring followed by large showy seed heads of silver pink feathers resembling puffs of smoke. 12-16” tall and slow spreader. Needs well drained soils, likes to be dry in summer, full sun (part shade in hot climates); deer resistant. Looks nice with grasses. Native American medicinal herb.

By: Secret Garden Growers

A Rock and Sand Garden Favorite, Praiire Smoke is one of the most distinctive and best loved prairie plants! The unique feathery pink seedheads make this a star of the springtime flowers. Geum triflorum spreads slowly by rootstocks to make a low growing groundcover. Excellent for hot, dry spots, it thrives in any well-drained soil. Hardy to Zones 3 - 6.

By: Prairie Nursery

Geum triflorum An interesting and beautiful plant. In this case, the flowers are small and hardly noticeable, but they're followed up by some of the most incredibly seed heads out there, the plant covering itself with long, silvery-pink poofs. The effect is magical, particularly in mass, and since they're not flowers but rather seeds, the show lasts an incredibly long time. A terrific prairie native, and so as tough as nails provided it has good sun and doesn't drown. A foot or so tall. Zone 4, perhaps more.

By: Arrowhead Alpines

Blooms: spring, nodding red, feathery seeds/ evergreen, gray-green, fern like foliage Zone 5-9. 8"-20", PNW, part shade-sun, moist, well drained

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

Pink flowers. Soft hairy fern-like leaves.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

The 'smoke' of the common name refers to the seed head--a 2" tuft of rose-colored fluff; the fl, resembling a nodding rose-pink urn, rises from finely-dissected foliage in early spring. Sun/Med-Dry/GdDrain

By: Forestfarm

Nodding pink flowers transition into fluffy, puffy, feathery seed heads that are fun and ornamental. 1' tall perennial.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Garden photo gallery of Geum triflorum

Photo of Geum triflorum flower by Anna Kullgren

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By: Anna Kullgren

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Photo of Geum triflorum showy seedheads by Dancing Oaks Nursery

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By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

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By: Stan Shebs

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

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By: Stan Shebs

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Photo of Geum triflorum flower by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

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By: Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

Photo of Geum triflorum flower by Keeping it Green Nursery

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By: Keeping it Green Nursery

By: Prairie Nursery

By: Kristine Paulus

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By: Kristine Paulus

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

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Photo of Geum triflorum foliage by Andesite Native Plant Nursery

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By: Andesite Native Plant Nursery

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Photo of Geum triflorum buds by Kiona Native Plants

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By: Kiona Native Plants

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Gardening facts about Geum triflorum plant

How to Grow Geum triflorum

Sun Exposure
- sun - dappled shade
Water Needs
- regular - occasional
Soil Needs
- clay
- alkaline
- adaptable
- average
- lean
- well-drained
- rich
- rocky
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant

Features

Foliage Color
- green
Flower Color
- yellow
- burgundy
Wildlife
- butterflies
Flower Season
- summer
Foliage Season
- evergreen
Texture
- fuzzy

Landscape groups by tags

See other plant types of Geum for your garden

Geum 'Blazing Sunset'

aka Geum chiloense 'Blazing Sunset', Geum flore-plena 'Blazing Sunset', Geum flore-pleno 'Blazing Sunset', Geum quellyon var. flora plena 'Blazing Sunset'