purple prairie clover

Dalea purpurea Vent.

characteristics

Perennial with bright, pink-purple flowers with vivid orange-yellow stamens. The dramatic flowers make this plant impossible to overlook. Flowering from the bottom up creates a fringe of petals on a partially bare, fuzzy, grey cone. The roots of this plant can reach a depth of almost 2 m.

300,000 seeds/pound; starts from seed, container, cuttings. Difficult to get going but once started on a site it takes care of itself by slowly self-seeding.

habitat

Prairies, road, and railway edges, open woods.

uses

Highly nutritious forage for livestock and wildlife; in particular white-tailed deer and wild turkey.

Used both as food and medicine by North American aboriginals.

Nitrogen fixing ability benefits the plant itself and those nearby.