Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 967 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Purple Prairie Clover: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name purple prairie clover, better written as "prairie-clover," in recognition of the fact that it is not a true clover (genus Trifolium).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Prairie Clover by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 271 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 155 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 137 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Colorado | 65 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 60 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 56 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Dakota | 51 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 29 | June | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 28 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 21 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 19 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 14 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Dakota | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Indiana | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 7 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wyoming | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Purple Prairie Clover?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Purple Prairie Clover most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois.