Purple Prairie Clover

The thimble-shaped flowers of Purple Prairie Clover sit atop a spray of stems with delicate foliage. This prairie plant has great garden form and is easily grown in any sunny location with average to dry soils. Its deep taproot supports a long-lived plant that is virtually impervious to heat and drought. Purple Prairie Clover is an excellent choice in a variety of plantings including rock gardens, sunny perennial borders, native plant gardens, or naturalized prairie areas.

A pollinator favorite, Purple Prairie Clover is a host plant for Dogface Butterfly larvae and provides nectar to many species of butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects. One of the most widespread of the Prairie Clovers, Dalea purpurea is a standard component in prairie restorations, but it is uncommon in areas that have been disturbed by modern development. Root division can be tricky as it does not like disturbance after it has become established.

Legumes such as Prairie Clovers harbor beneficial bacteria called rhizobia. The plants are able to capture nitrogen from the air, and the bacteria assist in "fixing" it in the plant. The plants act as a natural soil fertilizer when the spent plant material is left to enrich the soil.

Plant Characteristics

• Duration: Perennial
• Habit: Subshrub
• Leaf Retention: Deciduous
• Leaf Arrangement: Alternate

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: June, July, August, and September

Growing Conditions

• Water Use: Low
• Light Requirement: Sun
• Soil Moisture: Dry
• Drought Tolerance: High
• Conditions Comments: Deer Resistant

Benefit

• Attracts Butterflies
• Nectar Source: Yes
• Special Value to Native Bees
• Special Value to Bumble Bees
• Special Value to Honey Bees