white prairie clover

Dalea candida

Image of white prairie clover in bloom.

Image of white prairie clover seed heads on a table.

Description:

An indicator spices for dry prairies with sandy or rocky soils, white prairie clover puts on a show from July though late fall. Its tightly packed fluorescence bloom as a band of small white flowers in mid summer. The resulting seed head develops for several months until ripe seeds burst forth attached to fluffy white down that floats away in the wind.

Details:

white prairie clover

USDA Symbol: Common Name: Scientific Name:
DACA7 white prairie clover Dalea candida

ITIS TSN: 26603

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Rosidae

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Counties: Adams, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood

Natural Community:

Curtis Community: Dry Prairie, Dry-mesic Prairie, Mesic Prairie, Submergent Marsh

Coefficient of Conservation: 8

Duration: Growth Habit: Native Status:
Perennial Subshrub, Forb/herb L48(N)CAN(N)

Active Growth Period:

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat:

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:

Coppice Potential: No

Conspicuous Fall Color: No

Fire Resistant: No

Flower Color:

Conspicuous Flower: Yes

Foliage Color: Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer:

Foliage Porosity Winter:

Foliage Texture:

Fruit/Seed Color: Brown

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes

Growth Form: Bunch

Growth Rate: Moderate

Height at Base Age (Max):

Height at Maturity:

Known Alelopath: No

Leaf Retention: No

Lifespan:

Low Growing Grass: No

Re-sproutability:

Shape and Orientation: Erect

Toxicity: None

Height (min): 12

Height (max): 36

Root Type: Taproot/Multiple Large

Leaf Type: odd pinnate

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape: oblanceolate

Leaf Margin: entire

Vein Pattern:

Bloom Period: Commercial Availability: Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Summer, Mid Summer Routinely Available Medium
Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Fruit/Seed Period End: Fruit/Seed Persistence:
Summer Fall No
Propogated by Bare Root: Propogated by Bulbs: Propogated by Container:
Yes No Yes
Propogated by Corms: Propogated by Cuttings: Propogated by Seed:
No No Yes
Propogated by Sod: Propogated by Sprigs: Propogated by Tubers:
No No No
Seeds per Pound: Seed Spread Rate: Seedling Vigor:
278000 Moderate Medium
Small Grain: Vegetative Spread Rate: Propagation Treatment:
No Slow Dry Stratification
Days to Stratify: Direct Sowing Time:
Spring, Fall

Benefits: Birds, Pollinators

Berry/Nut/Seed Product: Christmas Tree Product: Fodder Product:
No No Yes
Fuelwood Product: Lumber Product: Naval Store Product:
No No No
Nursery Stock Product: Palatable Browse Animal: Palatable Graze Animal:
Yes High
Palatable Human: Post Product: Protein Potential:
Yes No Medium
Pulpwood Product: Veneer Product:
No No
Benefits: Wildlife Food Value: Wildlife Cover Value:
Birds, Pollinators Moderate Low

References:

  1. Lady Bird Johnson Center Wildflower Database – Dalea candida
  2. NPN Plant Propagation Database –Dalea candida
  3. Missouri Botanical Gardens – Dalea candida
  4. NRCS Plant Fact Sheet – Dalea candida
  5. NRCS Plant Guide – Dalea candida
  6. USDA Plants Database – Dalea candida
  7. Wisflora Database – Dalea candida

Return to Native Plants page