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Dalea candida - (Michx.)Willd.

Common Name White Prairie Clover
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry desert and alluvial soils to 2000 metres[43, 200]. Prairies and open wods on sandy, clayey and rocky soils[274].
Range Central N. America - southwards from Canada.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Dalea candida White Prairie Clover


Larry Allain @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dalea candida White Prairie Clover
James L. Reveal @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Dalea candida is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in). It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Petalostemon candidum. (Willd.)Michx.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses: Tea

Root - raw or chewed for its pleasant sweet flavour[105, 161, 177, 183]. Eaten as a delicacy by children[257]. A tea-like beverage is made from the dried leaves[105, 161, 177, 183].

References

Medicinal Uses

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Analgesic

The roots have been chewed to bring relief from the pain of toothaches etc[257].

References

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained soil in full sun[200]. A deep-rooted plant, it prefers a sandy loam with added leaf mould[1]. This species is well-suited to informal and naturalistic plantings, especially as part of a collection of native species[200]. We are not sure how hardy this plant is in Britain, but judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. Plants are monocarpic, living for a number of years without flowering and then dying after flowering[200]. The stems, leaves and flowers are dotted with glands, making the plant look blistered[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Dalea candida oligophyllaWhite Prairie CloverPerennial0.7 -  LMNDM31 
Dalea gattingeriPurpletasselsPerennial0.4 0-0  LMNDM20 
Dalea purpureaPurple Prairie CloverPerennial0.9 -  LMNDM21 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Michx.)Willd.

Botanical References

43200274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

plantmann   Wed Mar 26 2008

Several uses are missing from this. Notably, it was used as a panacea by the Navajo, the stems were peeled and eaten, and it was used as a strong emetic.

university of Michegan Native American Ethnobotany Search - Dalea candida

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