Learn More Details About This Plant

Plant Data

Names and Taxonomy

  • Common Names:
  • Synonyms:
  • Family: fabaceae
  • Genus Information: dalea

Habit and Size

  • Duration: annual or short-lived perennial herb
  • Habit: sprawling mat-forming or prostrate occasionally ascending or erect
  • Shape: low-growing spreading carpet-like form
  • Size: generally 4 to 14 inches tall can spread 12 to 36 inches wide
  • Stem: branching often becoming reddish or red-dotted covered in soft downy hairs and small glands

Leaves

  • Color: grey-green to medium green
  • Shape: odd-pinnately compound (typically 8–14 leaflets) individual leaflets are oval oblong or rounded and often folded
  • Edge: wavy (undulate) or shallowly lobed (crenate) usually features small dark glandular spots on the margins
  • Arrangement: alternate
  • Leaf Retention: deciduous

Flowers and Fruit

  • Sex: monoecious
  • Flower Color: whitish or cream often tinged with lavender purple or rose-pink
  • Flower Size: small pea-like flowers roughly 0.5 inches arranged in dense fluffy cylindrical spikes (racemes) about 13–17 mm in diameter
  • Number of Petals: 5 petals banner is 2.8–3.7 mm long wings are 2.4–3.1 mm and keel is 3.5–4 mm petals are often notched at the tips
  • Bloom: march to june (primarily spring)
  • Fruit: a small single-seeded legume pod often covered in fine hairs

Habitat and Growing Conditions

  • Water Use: low highly drought-tolerant once established
  • Light: full sun tolerates intense desert exposure
  • Soil: well-drained prefers sandy gravelly or rocky desert soils
  • Habitat: desert flats and in washes

Distribution

  • Distribution: AZ, CA, NV and Baja CA
  • Seen: Death Valley
  • Elevation: under 900 metres (3,000 ft) in elevation

Gallery

Soft Prairie Clover (Dalea mollissima)

Death Valley

Soft Prairie Clover (Dalea mollissima)

Death Valley