The purple prairie clover is from the pea family of plants and is native to the United States. Botanically, it is known by the name Dalea purpurea or Petalostemon purpureus.
Purple Prairie Clover Description
Growing only a few feet high, it has a very identifiable cone-like flower in cylindrical masses. Stems are upright and wiry. It is a perennial subshrub with deciduous green leaves with an alternate pattern. Blooms are rose-purple and come in the bloom season between June and September.
Growing Guide
The purple prairie clover prefers to grow in full sun conditions with a dry soil. It has a high drought tolerance. Propagate by seed as root division is tricky. Scarify the seeds with sandpaper before sowing into the ground.
Distribution
This native clover is found in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It is seen in dry hill areas and prairies.
Herbal Remedies
For wound care, bruised leaves steeped in water was a typical application for early explorers. Native Americans used purple prairie clover as a remedy for measles, diarrhea, pneumonia, and as a heart medication.
Other Uses
Some Native Americans ate the plant fresh or boiled its leaves to make tea. Some chewed roots as a type of candy. Due to their tough stems, the Pawnees made it into brooms.
Source: NPIN, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks