Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) is a stunning, hardy native perennial that thrives at Colorado's high altitudes and loves full sun and well-drained soil. It features nodding, pinkish-purple, bell-shaped flowers in late spring, which transform into spectacular, wispy, feather-like pink seed heads in summer.

Because it stays low to the ground (typically 6 to 12 inches tall) and forms a dense, semi-evergreen rosette of fern-like leaves, the best companions are taller plants that like dry, lean soil and provide a striking contrast to the unique, smoky texture of the seed heads.