This plant is well-adapted to thrive in a grazed habitat. As the taller-growing and more palatable grass and forb species in a pasture are removed prairie crocus increases. The deep roots live for many years and are not seriously affected by animal hooves. This species may do well in grazed areas, but plowing is a different matter. Prairie crocus is slow to return even to favourable sites after plowing, perhaps because it needs the fungal partners which occur in un-plowed soils.
Goldfinches visit prairie crocuses in summer, and eat the seeds.
It's also called Pasque flower, because in some areas it tends to bloom at Easter-time. Prairie crocus contains a poisonous alkaloid which is a powerful irritant that can cause inflammation and blistering. This can be a problem to domestic sheep, which tend to eat the flower. The poisonous properties were used to advantage by native peoples. A poultice made from the plant was used as a counter-irritant, to treat rheumatism or other muscular pains.