Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) is in the rose family family (Rosaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,198 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Prairie Smoke: observations by month (U.S.)
About Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum, (prairie smoke, three-flowered avens, or old man's whiskers) is a spring-blooming perennial herbaceous plant of North America from northern Canada to California and east to New York. The flowers bloom from mid-spring to early summer.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Prairie Smoke by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 389 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 170 | June | May–Jul |
| Washington | 111 | May | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 93 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 91 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 86 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 74 | May | May–Jun |
| Wyoming | 49 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 27 | June | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 26 | May | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 22 | June | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 15 | May | May–Jun |
| Utah | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 7 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (rose family)
Multiflora Rose
Virginia strawberry
Southern Dewberry
Trailing Blackberry
Purple-Flowered Raspberry
Thimbleberry
Salmonberry
Mock Strawberry
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Prairie Smoke?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Prairie Smoke most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Colorado, Washington.