Round-headed bush clover is a native wildflower in the Fabaceae (bean) family growing in woodlands and woodland borders, in meadows, prairies, sand dunes, and along roadsides. It is found in all areas of North Carolina. The upright stems reach a height of 2 to 5 feet tall and the plant is 1 to 3 feet wide. Stems and leaves are covered in fine white hairs. Clusters of white bristly flower heads emerge from late summer to fall. This plant is a high-value wildlife plant and is a host plant for butterflies, a forage plant, a nectar plant for pollinators and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. This plant is often browsed by deer and rabbits. Plant in the full sun in moist to dry soils. Clay, loam, sand or even shallow rocky soils are all appropriate. Once established this plant is quite drought tolerant and because it is a legume it will add nitrogen to the soil. It is adaptable to different soil types as long as they are well-drained and is drought-tolerant. In a landscape setting, use this native plant in a naturalized area, or meadow to support wildlife or plant it along a slope to help prevent erosion. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Trifoliate leaves occur alternately along the stem on short petioles, up to 3" long and 1" across, ovate, margins entire, scattered white hairs, visible central vein. Underside silky pubescent.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
2-5 inch long clusters of flowers appear in the apex and top of the central stem. There are numerous hairy bracts, from which the small white flowers barely protrude. The 1/4- 1/2 inch flowers have 5 petals and a patch of purple near the throat. Blooms August- Oct.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruit is a fuzzy pod with 1 seed. Persist into winter. Displays from September to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Erect stems ridged and have white hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North and southeastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
This plant supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) larvae which has many broods from February-November. The adult butterflies feed on low-lying, open or short-tubed flowers such as white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, and asters. It also attracts birds, bees, and mammals.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds