Dalea purpurea - purple prairie clover
DESCRIPTION
purple prairie clover
Dalea purpurea
Easy to grow and adaptable, Purple Prairie Clover has hundreds of red violet flowers from midsummer to fall. This prairie wildflower is irresistible to garden visitors and its long bloom time makes it a great plant for gardens and meadows alike. Intensely red-violet flowers punctuate the stiff, upright stems, adding a nice structural element and its color combines well with yellows, blues and pinks. Daleas are deep-rooted legumes and Purple Prairie Clover in particular adds valuable nitrogen to the soil and helps keep it fertile for neighboring plants. It adapts well to many different soil types and even tolerates clay. Dalea purpurea is a wonderful native alternative to Bachelor's Buttons in a wildflower planting.
Benefits
- Drought Tolerant
- Easy to Grow
- Naturalizes Well
- Combines well with grasses and other perennials
- Provides nitrogen for other plants
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Dalea purpurea occurs in glades, rocky open woods and prairies from New York to Alberta, south to Arizona and Georgia.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
INTERESTING FACTS
Purple prairie clover is frequently used in seed mixes for erosion control due to its ability to establish on disturbed sites and its capability to condition soil with nitrogen. New growth of this native legume is high in protein and is nutritious for grazing wildlife, however it does not seem to be attractive to deer.
GROWING TIPS
Purple Prairie Clover is easily grown in a sunny location and average to dry soils.
Mature Size: 1-2ft. Tall x 1-2ft. Wide
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
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American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose
Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:
- Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
- Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
- Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
- Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
- Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
- Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
- Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted
Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success
Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.
When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.
A Special Note About Exposure
Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download
Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download