Years ago, I first noticed a plant growing along the side of the road in New Mexico. In large drifts, Geum trifolum is a major contender for inspiring awe.

They were in the later seasonal growth stage called “smoke” and the whole patch was all a mist of salmon pink. I was gob-smacked and had to stop my rental car and get out to investigate. I had not seen anything like it and I had to do some research to find out that this plant was a Geum.

This is a large family of plants that plant connoisseurs call “avens.” I have been growing Geum in my perennial gardens for years and I now grow even the taller varieties for cutting flowers. But this is a different avens than the ones that I am used to. It is a native plant not found in New England, but it does prevail in 17 states and in Canada.

I am soft hearted about native plants and enjoy finding unusual ones that are reliably hardy to Zone 4. This winning plant is hardy to Zone 3. I prefer to use the online BONAP maps, (that’s the Biota of North America Program, available at bonap.net) to see the ranges of native and introduced plants in the U.S.

This Geum has all of the qualities of the perfect plant: It is a native, grows almost anywhere, thrives in hot dry conditions, is neat in appearance, blooms for a long period, is low maintenance and has good winter interest. When seeking a native plant not of this region, I make sure that it suits local pollinators and is not invasive. It is easy to find these plants online if they are not at a local nursery. However, I have seen them in limited quantities more recently at good local nurseries.

This perennial is a low leafy rosette, approximately 6 to 10 inches across. The leaf is attractive and has a fern-like appeal (which is why I did not recognize it when I first saw it). The height of the plant, without flower stalks, is about 5 inches. The flower stems can be as tall as 15 inches and are light and airy. The blooming period starts in the Northeast in late spring or early summer and lasts at least two months. The three (and sometimes, rarely, four or five) tight little blooms are dark pink danglers.

The flower group has the look of innocent triplets nodding at prayer. The wee pink heads turn downward and the opening at the bottom of the flower barely exposes the anthers and pollen. The flowers are cross-pollinated by tiny bees, barely noticed by us.

But my favorite fuzzy bumblebees come in droves seeking the nectar of this plant. The brute bumblebee is the chief insect tough enough to force its way into the flower and pollinate it. I love to watch the bumblebees in my garden and always seek ways to attract them. This flower is the ultimate play toy for them. This alone is a mighty reason to have this plant in the garden.

The flower stems stand erect after pollination and form pink feathery tassels. The to-die-for puffy tassels have good and various points of interest in color and texture throughout the season. The nature of the color and texture changes with the light. They move with the wind. They collect dew and rain drops and glisten like diamonds. The tassels are a sight to behold (and the source of the plant’s common name, Prairie Smoke or Old Man’s Whiskers — the latter being a conundrum to me). The small seeds, which are located along the tassel, are distributed by the wind.

The roots are both fibrous and rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants can develop from the rhizomes. This makes for a fabulous ground cover. The persistent purple-red rosette of ground hugging leaves yields handsome winter interest. The location preference for the Geum is full to part sun, medium moisture to dry conditions. Lean soil that is rocky, gravelly or sandy makes this plant happy. It is a great plant for a rock garden. However, I have used it as an edge plant within a perennial stand with success. Young plants should be kept well-watered during hot summer weather as Prairie Smoke is adapted to a somewhat cool northern climate. Once established, it is remarkably and delightfully care free.

Liz Krieg is a longtime horticulturist. She lives in Bethel.

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