Purple prairie clover

Dalea purpurea is named for Samuel Dale, who was an English botanist from the 17-18th century. The specific (pururea) epithet means purple. Although the common name is Purple prairie clover, this plant is not in the clover family, it is a legume in the pea family (Fabaceae). Plants in the pea family fix nitrogen in the soil boosting soil fertility.

The flowers of Dalea purpurea are pinkish-purple. They occur on a flowering spike on which they are grouped in small cylindrica rings similar to a wreath. Flowering begins at the base of the cylindrical flowerhead and proceeds to its tip. As new flowers open, older flowers fade. The purplish flowers have 5 golden hued anthers that form beautiful contrasting colors.

Purple prairie clover has a main stem with numerous branches developing near its base as the plants mature. This gives mature plants the appearance of a small bush. The plant height may reach up to 3 feet tall.

The stem may be hairless or somewhat hairy as shown below.

Leaves occur alternately with 3-7 leaflets.

Purple prairie clover attracts a diverse group of bees, as well as many other interesting insects such as the syrphid fly below.

Studies have shown that a multitude of Bees visit the plants. Depending on the bees native to where you live, you'll likely find some different bees than those here in Northern Arkansas.

Take a look at this beautiful bee grooming itself after nectaring on Dalea purpurea.

While I've read that butterflies visit the flowers of Purple prairie clover, I have not observed this in Northern Arkansas.

Purple prairie clover thrives in full sun. Indifferent to soil type, it's found thriving in gravel, clay or loam. Habitats include glades, rocky open woodlands and prairies. This tough plant is often included in seed mixes for prairie restorations as it fixes nitrogen, increasing soil fertility.

Natureserve shows Dalea purpurea var. purpurea as T5 (Secure Variety). However, it has a conservation value of 10 in Arkansas. This is the highest Conservation value, meaning 'Conservation taxa with strong fidelity to intact habitats. These taxa tend to exhibit late-successional characteristics like long lifespans with low seed sets and an inability for far ranging dispersal'.

Dalea purpurea was one of the plants collected by Lewis and Clark and sent back to President Jefferson in 1805. The National Park Service reports that two of the original specimens have survived, now being part of the Lewis and Clark Herbarium at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural sciences.