Old Man’s Whiskers (Geum triflorum)

Old Man’s Whiskers

(Geum triflorum)

Dianne Fristrom

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Image By: Dianne Fristrom

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Dianne Fristrom | License Type: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Attribution: 2003 Dianne Fristrom | Publisher: Calphotos |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Geum triflorum, commonly known as Old Man’s Whiskers or Prairie Smoke, is a perennial herb that is native to North American prairies, grasslands, and open woodlands across the United States and Southern Canada. This plant typically grows to a height of 2 feet and a width of 0.5-1 feet. It is characterized by its clumping form and the unique appearance of its flowers and seed heads. The foliage is pinnately compound with hairy leaves that form a basal rosette, which can turn reddish-purple in colder months, adding winter interest.

Old Man’s Whiskers is valued for its distinctive nodding flowers and feathery seed heads that resemble puffs of smoke. The plant blooms from mid-spring to early summer, with inflorescences consisting of umbels of 3 to 5 flowers on reddish-purple stems. After pollination, the flowers turn upwards and open, revealing the elongated styles covered in fine hairs, contributing to the common name. The flowers are not particularly showy due to their mostly closed nature, but the seed heads are quite ornamental. It is often used in native plant gardens, rock gardens, and borders for its low maintenance and drought tolerance once established. Geum triflorum prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade, and it thrives in well-drained soils. It is relatively disease-free but can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained conditions. This species is not known for aggressive roots or invasiveness.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 0.5-2 feet
Width: 0.5-1 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Pink
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to North American prairies, grasslands, and open woodlands

Other Names

Common Names: Old-Man’s-Whiskers , Purple Avens , Lionsbeard , Prairie Smoke , Three-Flowered Avens , Torchflower , Benoîte À Trois Fleurs , Fjädernejlikrot

Scientific Names: Geum triflorum , Erythrocoma triflorum , Sieversia triflora , Sieversia grisea , Geum ciliatum var. triflorum , Erythrocoma flavula , Geum triflorum f. pallidum , Erythrocoma grisea , Geum ciliatum var. griseum , Sieversia flavula

GBIF Accepted Name: Geum triflorum Pursh