Common Name: Purple Prairie Clover
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Eastern and Central United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Rose-Purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Attracts: honey bees, native bees, bumble bees
Purple prairie clover is forage for managed honey bees, leaf cutter bees, alkali bees, bumble bees, sweat bees, and many other native bee species. A research study taken from 19 midsummer surveys near Minneapolis has reported that no other prairie flower attracts as many bee species as this one. It is for sure an important one to include in your garden.
Purple prairie clover is easily grown in average, medium, and well drained soils in full sun. It develops a thick and deep taproot enables this plant to tolerate drought well. It can self-seed if grown in optimum conditions. It occurs in glades, rocky open wooded areas, and prairies. The tiny purple flowers are found in dense, cone shaped heads that are about 2 inches long that sit on erect, wiry stems. It has compound, pinnate leaves with 3-5 leaflets. It is a nitrogen fixing plant so it is good for other plants and is important as an ecosystem restoration plant in the Midwest.
Horticultural Information from:
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j970
Bioone.org
http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1674/00030031%282006%29156%5B193%3AAEOPMF%5D2.0.CO%3B2
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Eastern and Central United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Rose-Purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Attracts: honey bees, native bees, bumble bees
Purple prairie clover is forage for managed honey bees, leaf cutter bees, alkali bees, bumble bees, sweat bees, and many other native bee species. A research study taken from 19 midsummer surveys near Minneapolis has reported that no other prairie flower attracts as many bee species as this one. It is for sure an important one to include in your garden.
Purple prairie clover is easily grown in average, medium, and well drained soils in full sun. It develops a thick and deep taproot enables this plant to tolerate drought well. It can self-seed if grown in optimum conditions. It occurs in glades, rocky open wooded areas, and prairies. The tiny purple flowers are found in dense, cone shaped heads that are about 2 inches long that sit on erect, wiry stems. It has compound, pinnate leaves with 3-5 leaflets. It is a nitrogen fixing plant so it is good for other plants and is important as an ecosystem restoration plant in the Midwest.
Horticultural Information from:
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j970
Bioone.org
http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1674/00030031%282006%29156%5B193%3AAEOPMF%5D2.0.CO%3B2