Purple Prairie Clover

Dalea purpurea (da-LAY-ee ah pur-PUR-ee-ah)

Family: Fabaceae Native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Purple prairie clover is a herbaceous perennial wildflower native to West Central Canada and the West Central and East Central United States. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide with tiny purple flowers with a cone-like flower head, compound leaves with 3 to 7 leaflets, and woody, wiry stems. It is native to the prairies of the Midwest and has been used for land reclamation after strip mining, to prevent erosion, and to add nitrogen to the soil. It is adapted to areas with periodic wildfires, as this removes larger competing plants. The genus name, Dalea, honors an English botanist, Samuel Dale. The specific epithet, purpurea, means purple. It is a member of the bean family (Fabaceae). Purple prairie clover prefers full sun and is adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including sandy, rocky, and clay-laden soils. It tolerates moist to dry, well-drained soil. The individual flowers are tiny and are born on a cone-shaped flower spike in early to mid-summer, from June to August. The leaves are dark green, pinnately compound with 3 to 7 small, narrow leaflets. The green stems are woody and wiry. The fruit is a legume and contains 1 to 2 seeds. The plant's mature taproot is coarse and woody, and can grow 5.5 to 6.5 feet deep. Best propagated by seeds. Despite its name, it is not a true clover. It is a legume with a long taproot, and is a protein source for grazing herbivores, as well as a nectar source for many pollinators such as bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Use this plant in a naturalized, drought-tolerant setting as a border, in a rock garden, or in mass plantings in a prairie. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This perennial has no serious insect or disease issues.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.