Dalea purpurea, Purple Prairie Clover
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| Pollinators, like this sweat bee, are attracted to Purple Prairie Clover. |
Purple Prairie Clover is a staple of prairie and sand prairie gardens. Leguminous, it helps fix nitrogen in the soils to its benefit and that of its plant community. Highly attractive to humans and pollinators alike, I can't imagine a reason not to grow it, other than conditions limited to shady woodland or wetland. Its fine foliage is almost imperceptible when grown in a community of plants, where it will pop its hot pink head above the mid-height grasses and forbs of early summer. Goes great with Blue Grama, Side Oats Grama, Prairie Dropseed, June Grass, Butterflyweed, Prairie Phlox, Prairie Onion, Hoary Vervain, and more.
Blooms: magenta-pink, June into August
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Conditions: sun to pt sun, medium to dry soils
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| Purple Prairie Clover next to Blue Grama grass and Butterflyweed, behind. |
