Purple Prairie Clover

Dalea purpurea, also known as purple prairie clover, is a native clover species that grows in meadows, rocky open woods, and prairies across Texas, except for the southeastern counties. This plant typically grows between 1 to 3 feet tall and blooms tiny purple flowers in dense, cone-like heads about 2 inches long on erect, wiry stems during the summer. Its compound leaves are odd-pinnate, with 3-5 narrow linear leaflets. As a nitrogen-fixing plant, it is essential to Midwestern prairie restorations.

This plant requires well-drained soils that are average to medium in texture and full sun to grow. Its thick and deep taproot enables it to withstand drought conditions. In ideal growing conditions, it may self-seed. This plant was formerly known as Petalostemon purpureum.