The prairie crocus has pale blue or purple flowers arising from the woody rootstock that appear very early in spring. The whole plant is covered with woolly-white hairs. The leaves, gray-green and much divided, don't appear until the flower fades. Distribution Click here to view distribution map of Prairie Crocus.
Prairie crocus grows in northern latitudes more or less all around the world.
It is common in eastern Russia and Asia, but there are wide gaps in its distribution in Europe. It is widespread in North America , appearing from Canada south to New Mexico . In Canada, it occurs in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and from B.C. east to Manitoba. Its prairie population has declined greatly since pioneer days because it grows in native prairie sod, most of which has been ploughed or cultivated. Habitat Prairie crocus grows on the prairie and in dry, open woods, often on sandy soils.