December 3, 2018
A native to the Illinois prairie, Prairie Smoke does best in well-drained soils that are on the drier side. They do not tolerate poorly drained soils. This plant will spread slowly from its roots to form a naturalized groundcover. Prairie Smoke performs best in full to partial sun, preferring some afternoon shade to protect it from the hot summer conditions. This plant is virtually maintenance free, so it’s perfect for a low maintenance garden or beginner gardener wanting to experiment with natives.
Purplish pink globular flowers gracefully nod above the attractive, fern-like foliage in late spring. However, the developing seed heads are the showstopper on this plant. They’re soft and plume-like as the wind flows through, resembling hazy smoke floating across the ground, hence the common name.
Prairie Smoke makes a wonderful addition as a groundcover to the border of a perennial bed, native plant garden and is best appreciated en masse.
If you are looking to add roses to your garden, but are hesitant because of their reputation for high maintenance, we encourage you to try knockout roses.
While the purple salvias are a staple plant in many of our landscape projects, we enjoy mixing in pink versions like this lovely pink profusion salvia.
If you’re looking to create a live alternative to traditional fencing, but have limited space, we suggest green Giant Arborvitae.
A versatile and easy-to-grow shrub, Kodiak black bush honeysuckle reflects a dark burgundy/black hue that is irresistible to the eye.