Bloomipedia
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
Photo: jenniferf4 via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Prairie smoke

Geum triflorum

Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Prairie smoke is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

19states where USDA records it
5Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,299U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Quick look

Geum triflorum, commonly known as prairie smoke, old man's whiskers, or three-flowered avens, is a spring-blooming perennial herbaceous plant of the Rosaceae family. It is a hemiboreal continental climate species that is widespread in colder and drier environments of western North America, although it does occur in isolated populations as far east as New York and Ontario.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota. NatureServe
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,445 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #13 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 894 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #18 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 503 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #68 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,234 records)
Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MontanaNativeMay–July1,445
WyomingNativefew records (49)894
IdahoNativefew records (26)503
North DakotaNativefew records (22)249
South DakotaNativefew records (15)190

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IL (S2), MI (S2), NY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records prairie smoke in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Stillwater, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie, Weston.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Adams, Bannock, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Fremont, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Prairie smoke a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
16 to 40 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GETR. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 368 counties across 18 states; the most are in Minnesota (58), Wisconsin (42), Montana (38).

Other Geum on Bloomipedia (3): Large-leaved avens, Ross' avens, Calthaleaf avens.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Montana flowers

Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)

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Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

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Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

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🌼 Few flowering records in MT

Sources