Prairie Crocus

Did you know

• It is the official floral emblem of Manitoba, Canada, and South Dakota, celebrated as the first sign of spring on the prairies.
• The entire plant is covered in silky hairs that insulate it from late-season frosts, allowing it to bloom when snow still lingers.
• Despite its name, it is not a true crocus but belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
• The flower buds can push through frozen soil and even light snow cover, emerging before any leaves appear.
• After flowering, it produces feathery seed heads that resemble old man's whiskers, carried by the wind across open prairies.

Color meanings

Uses

• native plant gardens
• rock gardens
• prairie restoration
• traditional medicine