Dalea purpurea

Purple Prairie Clover adds nitrogen to the soil naturally. This little legume has it all: gorgeous purple and gold flowers, elegant foliage, plus it fertilizes your prairie naturally with Nitrogen that it takes from the air. Dalea purpurea is deeply taprooted, this long-lived beauty is virtually impervious to heat and drought. Hardy to Zones 3 - 8.

Now more properly Dalea purpurea, this is an important nitrogen fixing component of native prairies. Forms an impressively deep tap root which gives it incredible drought resistance once established, though remember it takes some time for new plantings to get rooted down, so don't test that drought tolerance too early. Flowers are an incredibly bright shade of purple-pink, and arranged in dense little cones that remind me a bit of sanguisorba, and bloom profusely over a long period in the summer. When not in bloom, the finely cut foliage is quite attractive as well. Growth habit is fairly tidy and compact, reaching2 to 3 feet tall and wide. This native plant has a lot of virtues, and no obvious flaws unless you object to the intensity of the flower color. Not sure why it isn't more widely grown. Zone 3

In my mind' s eye I can see these dense 2" flower heads of violet to crimson on their 2-3' stalks blowing with the prairie grasses but they also cheerfully adapt and blend into any garden. Sun/Med-Dry

Perennial & carefree once established, this true gem of an American wildflower is native to a wide range of habitats in our Central states. Cheerful rosy-purple dense flowering “cones” 1”-3” long are happily displayed atop upright stems for 1 1/2 months in Summertime. Beginning at the bottom, the flowers-studded with golden anthers – move up the cylindrical cones as the season progresses & are highly popular with bees & butterflies. Attractive finely cut foliage, too. Very “Midwestern prairie” planted with perennial Rudbeckias like R.triloba. Forming a long tap root, Dalea purpurea tolerates sand, clay & drought but looks best in well drained soil with average moisture. It’s slow to develop in the garden – so a bit of patience is required but aptly rewarded! Grows to 2’x2’.