SafePlants

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

Purple Prairie Clover, also sometimes referred to as Violet Prairie Clover, is a beautiful and ecologically valuable flowering plant native to a large portion of central North America.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that Purple Prairie Clover produces protein-rich seed that serves as a food source for various animals, including birds and small animals.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions that Purple Prairie Clover is a component of native wildflower seed mixes.

Common Names

• Purple Prairie Clover
• Violet Prairie Clover

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dalea purpurea
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family) or Leguminosae (Legume Family)
• Synonyms: Petalostemum purpureum, Petalostemon violaceum
• Plant Symbol: DAPUP
• Variety: Dalea purpurea Vent. var. purpurea

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the central section of North America.
• Found in prairies, glades, rocky open woods, and dry hills.
• Specifically mentioned regions include Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and throughout the United States, excluding the eastern and western tier states.

Ecological Role

• A legume that naturally fertilizes the prairie by fixing nitrogen from the air.
• Helps add nitrogen back into the soil when grown in gardens.
• Can be used as a green manure or cover crop.
• Decreases in abundance with overgrazing.
• Provides cover and food for wildlife.
• Attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Herbaceous perennial plant, typically unbranched but older plants may tiller.
• Grows to be 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) tall.
• Multiple slender, upright stems grow from a single base.
• Deep-rooted, making it drought-tolerant.
• Leaves are divided into 3 to 9 shiny, narrow leaflets, each about 1-inch long and 1/8-inch wide.
• Small dark leaves give the plant a ferny appearance.
• Produces cone-shaped flower heads of tiny 5-petaled purple flowers (2-inch thimble-shaped spike).
• Flowers bloom in mid-summer and are described as intensely red-violet.

Quirky Facts

• The plant's purple flowers and unusual shape are considered favorites by some.
• It is described as having a deceptive nature, though the specific deception is not detailed.
• This species is known for the ability to turn plains purple to the horizon.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
• Provides food for birds, deer, antelope, livestock, and small animals through its protein-rich seeds.
• Can be planted with Butterflyweed and Black-eyed Susan for a stunning visual display.

Further Information

• USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet
• Dave's Garden
• Montana Native Plant Society