# purple prairie clover (*Dalea purpurea*) Purple prairie clover is a lovely flower that grows in fields and prairies. It has bright purple blooms that attract butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among pollinators! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![purple prairie clover](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dalea_purpurea_1971.jpg&width=800) Photo: Richard Thomas, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dalea_purpurea_1971.jpg) ## Appearance The purple prairie clover has dense, cylindrical spikes of vibrant magenta-purple flowers that bloom atop slender, upright stems. Its delicate, feathery green leaves grow in clusters, providing a soft contrast to the striking blooms, making it stand out in grasslands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Dalea ## Interesting facts - Its roots were historically chewed by Indigenous peoples for a refreshing, sweet treat! - Purple prairie clover adds vital nutrients to the soil, acting like a natural fertilizer for the land! - The individual flowers on its spike open from bottom to top, creating a wave of purple color! - This plant's seeds can stay buried and sprout even after 50 years, waiting for the right moment! ## Special abilities - **Soil Supercharger:** Purple prairie clover can enrich the soil because it hosts helpful bacteria that capture nitrogen from the air, turning it into plant food. - **Drought Fighter:** Purple prairie clover has a deep taproot that helps it find water far underground, allowing it to stay strong even in dry conditions. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Purple prairie clover can attract many busy bees and butterflies with its nectar-rich flowers, acting as a vital food source for them. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-80 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding reproduction - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits flowers for nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild flowers to keep them safe and healthy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify purple prairie clover? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is purple prairie clover? 30-80 cm ### How wide does purple prairie clover spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on purple prairie clover? 0.5-1 cm ### When does purple prairie clover bloom? Summer ### Is purple prairie clover edible? Yes ### Is purple prairie clover toxic? None ### What is purple prairie clover's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Blue Springs Heritage Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-springs-heritage-center) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden - [Harrell Prairie Botanical Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harrell-prairie-botanical-area) — Mississippi, US · Botanical Garden - [Mount Carroll Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-carroll-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Niobrara Valley Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/niobrara-valley-preserve) — Nebraska, US · Nature Reserve - [Lake Ahquabi State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-ahquabi-state-park) — Iowa, US · State Park [View all places to see purple prairie clover](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/purple-prairie-clover) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Purple Prairie Clover: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-prairie-clover)