White Prairie Clover

Scientific name:  Dalea candida Mich. Ex Willd.  

Short Description: White prairie clover is a native perennial legume with bright green foliage and white cylindrical flowers.  

Description: White prairie clover is a native warm-season perennial leguminous forb adapted to the central two-thirds of the United States.  It is typically found growing on well drained sandy, gravelly, and silt-type soils. White prairie clover favors the mid to short grass prairies receiving 10 to 20 inches of annual rainfall.  It is a very desirable component of warm season grass plantings because of its nitrogen fixing capability.  It is readily grazed by all classes of livestock and is an important browse species for deer, elk, and upland game birds.  The bright green foliage and white cylindrical flowers make it a favorite in low maintenance gardens and wildflower plantings in low rainfall areas. White prairie clover is not an aggressive species and works very well in prairie mixes. 

Plant Taxonomy of White Prairie Clover 

Plant Characteristics of White Prairie Clover  

 *Special considerations for spring planting:  seed germination can be improved with mechanical scarification.  Seed needs to be inoculated with Rhizobium for nitrogen fixation to occur. Germination of scarified seed generally occurs within 2 weeks after planting provided adequate soil moisture and temperature conditions are met.    

Uses of White Prairie Clover

Landscape:  attractive in mass plantings as well as in species mixes

Wildlife: excellent food source,insect attractant, and cover for game birds

Erosion control: when combined with grasses, forbs, and legumes