Species white prairie clover
white flowers with white filaments and bright-yellow anthers; and white-green buds on a light-green stem

white prairie clover

Dalea candida

White prairie clover (Dalea candida) is an amazing plant species native to North America. It has soft, foliage with deeply divided, ovate leaflets creating an eye-catching display of delicate white flowers, for which it is aptly named. It is moderately drought and salt tolerant, and when grown in mass, it will attract many pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It has been used by Native Americans for centuries not only as a medicinal plant, but also for its strong nitrogen-fixing quality, making it a great nitrogen-rich addition to gardens and landscapes. White prairie clover is an amazing plant species that everyone should consider adding to their garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Root Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

White prairie clover is a low-water plant species and does not require frequent watering. It grows best in well-drained soils and is very tolerant of drought. Watering the plant deeply and infrequently is best, perhaps once or twice per month in hot, dry spells. For containerized plants, a thorough watering every 7 to 10 days is often needed. For established plants, apply a deep soaking once every 1 to 2 weeks during the growing season. Afterward, reduce waterings further when temperatures dip and plant growth slows down in the winter. Not providing too much water is essential as this plant will not tolerate standing water in its root zone.

sunlight

White prairie clover thrives in full sun, and it prefers to grow in sunny locations with 8 or more hours of sunlight every day. It is best to give the plant a few hours of late-afternoon or early-morning sun in order to provide it with the full day of sun it needs. If possible, experiments suggest that the white prairie clover should have as much sunlight as possible to typically take full advantage of its growth potential. It is worth noting that the plant can suffer from sun scald or sunburn if exposed to extreme and full sun for too long.

pruning

White prairie clover (Dalea candida) should be lightly pruned each spring before new growth begins to remove dead stems and flower heads. If the plant has become too crowded, divide it in early spring before any signs of new growth. Avoid pruning too much as white prairie clover responds best to light pruning rather than heavy shearing. After flowering, deadheading is beneficial to extend blooming and encourage a second flush of flowers.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

White prairie clover typically starts flowering in June.

Hardiness Map