Purple Prairie Clover
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Dalea purpurea
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 grows best in well-drained soils that are average to medium in texture and full sun. 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.
Larval Host Plant: Southern Dogface Butterfly (Zerene cesonia)
Nectar Source Plant: Cellophane Bees (Colletes albescens, C. robertsonii, C. susannae, C. wilmattae), Green Sweat Bees (Agapostemon spp., Augochlorella spp.), Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.), Leafcutter Bees (Megachile spp.), Sweat Bees (Halictus spp.), Cuckoo Bees (Coelioxys spp.)
Height: 1’-3’
Spread 1’-1.5’
Bloom: June-August
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low, Medium
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Origin: North America
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
