How to Plant Prairie Smoke Seeds
Prairie smoke, geum triflorum, is a common wild flower found in North America. Also known by the names old man's whiskers, purple or red avens or three-flowered avens, prairie smoke is a member of the rose family. It is usually found in the open prairie in temperate or subarctic areas. It acquired its name from the seed heads that have a smoky or wispy appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Planting Prairie Smoke Seeds
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Choose a location for planting the prairie smoke seeds. According to the University of Wisconsin website, prairie smoke tolerates a variety of well-drained soils. While prairie smoke will grow in shady locations, it will flower more vividly in full sun.
Prairie smoke is often planted in rock gardens. The plant forms a rounded mound of foliage during the summer. Leaves have a fern-like appearance with green foliage turning red or purple during the fall and winter. It is often planted on the borders or front of garden because of its low growth pattern. A south or west exposure is preferred. The plant grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7.
It is often paired with other wildflowers including wild flax, coneflowers and native grasses.
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Plant seeds of prairie smoke in the spring. Seeds can be started indoors about five weeks before the lasts frosts of spring, when the plants can be transplanted outside.
In addition, prairie smoke plants will self seed. Keep the area around prairie smoke plants clear of other plants to allow the dropped seeds a chance to sprout and grow.
Prairie smoke is a wild flower. In its natural environment, the seeds would distribute in late spring. New plants would start that summer but would not bloom until the next spring. Gardeners can mimic that natural progression by planting prairie smoke seeds in the summer or fall.
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Maintain the prairie smoke plant. Prairie smoke's water requirements are modest but heaviest in the spring, when the plant is blooming and producing seeds.
Prairie smoke plants also expand through rhizomes spreading from the roots. Over several years the clump of plants growing in a garden can become large. It is advised to divide the plant every three to four years to improve the plants vigor. The wild version of prairie smoke usually faces too many competing plants to grow to the point it would require dividing.
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