Old-man's-whiskers

Year-round

Prairie smoke is a low, ferny clump that likes thin, well-drained soil and does not need much water.

• Lady Bird Johnson lists medium water use and dry to moist soil.
• It takes sun, part shade or shade and likes near-neutral soil.
• Plants stay 6 to 18 inches tall and form dense mats over time.

Fall

Fall is easy: let the leaves turn and leave the clump alone.

• Leaves turn deep red in fall.
• Late summer is also a fine time to divide clumps.
• No fertilizing or pruning is called for.

Winter

Winter needs no work since the foliage is sometimes evergreen and the plant is dormant or resting.

• Leaves are sometimes evergreen, so do not cut them off.
• Skip watering unless the soil is bone dry.
• Keep heavy mulch or piled snow off the crown.

Spring

Spring is bloom time, so enjoy the nodding flowers and skip extra fertilizer.

• Flowers appear in April and May in red, pink or purple bells.
• Divide clumps in early spring if you want more plants.
• Water only if the soil is dry for a long stretch.

Summer

In summer the fuzzy seed plumes follow the flowers, and the plant needs little from you.

• Seed can be collected in late spring or early summer.
• Leaves stay blue-green and ferny in a basal clump.
• Keep the spot well drained, since it prefers dry to moist soil.

Year-round

Prairie smoke is a native Minnesota perennial that blooms early and needs very little care once it settles into the dry, sunny conditions common around Bemidji.

• Plant in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil, it tolerates poor, sandy or gravelly ground better than rich garden soil.
• Space plants 12 to 15 inches apart, it spreads slowly by rhizomes and self-seeding to form a low mat over time.
• Avoid heavy mulch or low, wet spots, root rot is the main risk in Bemidji's clay-heavy or poorly drained areas.
• Water new plantings through the first growing season, established plants need extra water only during long dry spells.
• Divide congested clumps in early spring or fall if flowering slows down after several years.
• Leave the feathery pink seed plumes in place through summer, they are decorative and help the plant self-sow.

The neat, low rosettes and early pink blooms read as a tidy, intentional border plant, which helps on HOA-conscious front yards.

Fall

Fall is a good time to plant or divide prairie smoke in Bemidji, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes.

• Plant or divide in early fall, at least 6 weeks before the ground typically freezes in the Bemidji area.
• Frost is common by mid to late September in northern Minnesota, established plants are unaffected since they are fully cold-hardy.
• Reduce watering as temperatures drop and the plant heads into dormancy.
• Skip fall fertilizing, it can push tender new growth that will not harden off before winter.
• Leave seed heads and the leaf rosette standing through fall, they add some winter interest and protect the crown.

Winter

Prairie smoke is fully hardy through Bemidji's cold winters and needs no special protection once it is established.

• Hardy to USDA zone 3, which covers the Bemidji area, no winter mulch or covering is required for established plants.
• A natural snow cover is enough insulation, if a site is prone to blowing bare, a light layer of leaf mulch after freeze-up is optional.
• Do not cut back the basal leaf rosette in fall, it stays semi-evergreen and carries the plant through winter.
• Avoid walking on the crown in winter, repeated compaction over frozen soil can damage the shallow roots.
• New growth resumes as soon as snow melts and soil warms, usually by mid-April.

Spring

Prairie smoke is one of the earliest bloomers in Bemidji gardens, often flowering while other perennials are still dormant.

• Flowers open as soon as soil warms, usually April into May in the Bemidji area.
• Cut back any winter-damaged leaves once new growth starts, the fuzzy leaf rosettes green up quickly.
• Skip fertilizer, this plant is adapted to lean native soil and rich soil can cause floppy, weak growth.
• Watch for standing water from spring snowmelt, move plants that sit in a wet spot for more than a few days.
• After bloom, flower heads turn into the pink, feathery seed plumes the plant is named for, leave them on the plant rather than trimming.

Summer

The plumed seed heads are the main summer show, while the plant itself goes semi-dormant through Bemidji's warmest, driest stretches.

• The pink-gray seed plumes persist for weeks after bloom and catch light nicely, no deadheading is needed.
• Foliage can look tired in peak summer heat, this is normal and not a sign of disease.
• Water only during prolonged drought, roughly an inch every two weeks if there has been no rain.
• Keep the area weeded, young plants can be crowded out by taller summer weeds before they have a chance to spread.
• Avoid watering foliage late in the day, wet leaves overnight raise the risk of fungal leaf spot.

Year-round

Year-round care for prairie smoke around Milwaukee, WI: full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soil.

• It grows best in dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun.
• It tolerates light shade and benefits from afternoon shade in hot summers.
• It is intolerant of wet winter conditions, and root rot can be a problem in poorly drained soils.
• Plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide.
• Mature plants often form dense mats.
• It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7.

A low, mat-forming plant that forms a neat edge at the front of a bed.