Plant Name
Scientific Name: Dalea purpurea
Synonym: Petalostemum purpureum
Common Names: Purple Prairie Clover, Violet Prairie Clover, Purple Prairie-clover
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Upland. This prairie wildflower grows in grassy areas.
Flower Color: Rose-purple
Flowering Season: Spring (late), Summer
Height: To 35 inches (90 cm) tall
Description: The small flowers ring the cylindrical, up to 2 3/4 inch (7 cm) long, terminal flower spikes. The individual flowers have 5 petals and bright golden orange anthers. The leaves are alternate, green, and pinnately compound with 3 to 7 linear leaflets.
Special Characteristics
Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract butterflies, and the plants are the larval food plant for several species of butterfly.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae – Pea family
Genus: Dalea L. – prairie clover
Species: Dalea purpurea Vent. – purple prairie clover
More About This Plant