Purple Prairie Clover is a native perennial wildflower of the Great Plains, bearing cylindrical flower heads of vivid magenta-purple that bloom progressively from the bottom up over several weeks in summer. Growing 1–3 feet tall, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root bacteria, enriching prairie soils. The plant is extremely drought-tolerant and an excellent indicator of high-quality native prairie. Indigenous peoples chewed the sweet roots and made tea from the leaves.
Best time to see a Purple Prairie Clover
The best time to see a Purple Prairie Clover is June–July, when about 80% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 11,598 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Purple Prairie Clover? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Purple Prairie Clover sightings near you
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