Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
White Prairie Clover
Dalea candida [C-value 9]
Bean family (Fabaceae)
Blooms July -
September
The native White Prairie Clover is rare in our area. It prefers full sun and slightly moist to dry conditions. Habitats include slightly moist to dry black soil prairies, savannas, and openings in upland forests. This perennial is 1-2½' tall and mostly unbranched. The alternate compound leaves are odd pinnate and about 2-7" long, consisting of 3-9 pale green leaflets. Each linear leaflet is about 1" long and less than ¼" across with smooth margins. There is a short cylindrical spike of white flowers at the terminus of the central stem that is about 1-3" tall and ¾" across. The tiny flowers form a wreath around the bottom of the spike, which moves upward as the season progresses. Each flower is about ¼" across, with 5 white petals.
White Prairie Clover at Richard Young Forest Preserve July 2, 2013
Except for the color, White Prairie Clover is very similar to Purple Prairie Clover.
White Prairie Clover at Richard Young Forest Preserve June 26, 2013
White Prairie Clover fall seedheads at Richard Young Forest Preserve October 29, 2014
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