Prairie Smoke enchants with nodding pink blooms that give way to feathery, smoky seed heads that seem to hover like wisps of fog. It grows 6–18 inches tall and brings a soft, whimsical charm to sunny, well-drained spots.

Prefers full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soil, especially in gravelly or sandy conditions. Drought-tolerant once established and very low-maintenance.

Forms tidy, slowly spreading clumps that nestle well among rock garden plants or front-of-border companions. It’s polite in habit, yet visually striking through bloom and seed.

Native to prairies, rocky slopes, and open woodlands across central and western North America. A signature plant of dry, open habitats and remnant grasslands.

Emerges early in spring with lacy foliage, followed by dusky pink blooms and silvery-pink seed plumes that last into summer. Foliage turns reddish in fall, offering subtle color into winter.

Early flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and small native pollinators. Its low, tufted form offers shelter for ground insects and plays a quiet but important role in prairie ecosystems.