Purple Prairie Clover

Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), a North American perennial that shoots out fiery purple-pink bloom spikes from early June to September, is adapted to dry sites open to the blazing sun. Its deep taproot—often 5 or 6 feet long—allows it to thrive in conditions that would fry your average garden flower. Butterflies and bees like the flowers, and neighboring plants benefit from the nitrogen that this legume fixes in the soil. It’s found in the