Prairie Smoke is named for the feathery, smoke-like plumes that form on the seed heads in late spring, giving prairies a hazy appearance. It is an early bloomer on dry to mesic prairies, producing nodding, vase-shaped pink flowers. The wind-dispersed seeds are adapted for long-distance travel across open grasslands.
Best time to see a Prairie Smoke
The best time to see a Prairie Smoke is May–June, when about 70% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 11,234 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Prairie Smoke? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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