White Prairie Clover Dalea candida
Previously known as:
- Petalostemum candidum
- Phonetic Spelling
- da-LAY-ee ah can-DEE-dah
- Description
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The scientific name honors Samuel Dale, a 17th-18th century botanist from England, while the translation of candidus refers to the plants' white flowers.
White prairie clover is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to the Midwest or central United States from Canada to Mexico. This plant can be found in a variety of habitats such as prairies, foothills, disturbed areas and forests. Its deep and thick taproot can grow up to 5' deep, making this plant drought tolerant while its self-seeding capabilities will help to form patches of summer blooming plants. The seeds are disbursed by the wind.
The long taproot provides fertility to the surrounding soil by way of it nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Its tiny, showy flowers bloom from bottom to top of the long, cylindrical head. The heads may grow to 3" long and will take on the form of a dense ruff as it blooms. The bloom period takes place in mid-summer and can last for up to one month.
This plant is sometimes confused with White Dalea or D. albiflora, however, White Prairie Clover has 5 stamens while White Dalea has 10.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dalea
- Species:
- candida
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Grows via self seeding in prairies and open woodlands.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- US native
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, AZ, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract bees, butterflies and birds. It serves as a host plant for the Dogface butterfly. Its high protein content provides great forage for both wildlife and livestock.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The dry fruits do not split open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The white flowers are approximately 1/4" across, have 5 petals and 5 stamens. Blooming begins at the bottom of a spike and continues to bloom in an upward direction.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The dull green leaves are composed of 5 to 7 narrow leaflets, forming a 2-7" long leaf. The narrow leaflets are less than 1/4" wide and typically 1 1/2" long. Glandular dots can be found on the underside of the leaflets.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The flowers form at the top of the erect sender, pale green stems. The lower portion of the stem is typically unbranched, while the upper portion can be sparsely branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
