SafePlants

White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida)

Dalea candida, commonly known as White Prairie Clover, is a native perennial wildflower valued for its ecological benefits and attractive appearance. It's a member of the legume family and thrives in prairie and grassland ecosystems.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant produces seeds that are attractive to birds and other wildlife. While generally considered safe, ingestion of large quantities of seeds may cause digestive upset in some animals.

Considerations for Children

• No known hazards were explicitly mentioned regarding this plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd.
• Common Name: White Prairie Clover, White Prairie-clover
• Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae), Bean family
• Synonyms: Petalostemon candidum (Willd.) Michx.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to North America, specifically Central North America from Canada to Mexico.
• Occasionally found as an introduction outside of its native range.
• Typically occurs in glades and rocky prairies.
• Often found in native prairies and prairie remnants on dry or well-drained soils, particularly in the Tallgrass Prairie region.
• Grows well in sandy and gravely soil.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Perennial plant, unbranched or sparsely branched in the upper half.
• Height ranges from 1 to 3 feet (20-50 cm). Some sources cite 1-2 feet.
• Has a tall, slender, showy upright clump habit.
• Leaves are alternate, compound, odd pinnate, and gland-dotted.
• Leaflets are 3-5, less than 1cm long, and spatulate.
• Stems are erect or widely spreading, slender, straight, simple or sparingly branched above, glabrous, ribbed.
• Flowers are tiny, white, and arranged in a cylindrical spike 1 to 3 inches long. Lower flowers in the spike bloom first.
• Blooms from February to June according to one source, while others indicate summer and fall flowering.

Ecological Role

• Important component of midwestern prairie restorations.
• Provides protein-rich seeds that are a food source for many birds, deer, antelope, livestock, and small mammals.
• The flowers are attractive to bees, making it a beneficial plant for pollinators. It often grows in patches, further enhancing its appeal to pollinators.
• Can be used in reclamation of drastically disturbed lands and range renovation projects.
• Enriches wildlife and soil.
• Drought-resistant.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Seeds are utilized by a diversity of birds.
• Pollinator paradise because it attracts bees.
• Often found growing with P. purpureum (Purple Prairie Clover).

Quirky Facts

• Before flowering, White Prairie Clover can be distinguished from Purple Prairie Clover by the width of its leaves; White Prairie Clover has wider leaves.
• The neat little cone-shaped flower heads are easy to spot.

Further Information

• USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Manhattan, Kansas
• Dave's Garden (website with gardening tips and ideas)
• Native American Seed (vendor selling White Prairie Clover seeds)
• Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses (resource with photos and information)