Prairie, Purple

For centuries, an important plant for humans, animals, and the landscape! Native Americans eat the leaves or make tea (or an addition to tea) from them. The root is very tasty and sweet to chew raw, and the stems are used to make a sturdy, elastic broom. Medicinal applications include wound care, treatment for heart and intestinal problems, and measles.
Despite its name, this is not a true clover, but rather a "cousin" of it. The plant is native to North America and very hardy in our climate. Its roots anchor themselves firmly, sometimes up to 2 m deep! The delicate, needle-like, grayish-green leaves and clusters of spicy pink flowers (total height 50-90 cm) give the plant a playful appearance. Flowering period July-September.
This species is used in the US to re-plant reclaimed land (for example, after mining), and this diligent rooter also prevents erosion and brings nitrogen (nutrients) into the soil. If they settle for a few years, even a (prairie) fire doesn't bother them! In the prairie, this plant is important food for wild cattle, such as the pronghorn, but the species is also cultivated to enrich hay.

To avoid depleting your valuable soil, it is wise to occasionally leave the ground fallow. During such a period, green manure is ideal: it provides nutrients to the soil through often present nitrogen fixation; it suppresses weed growth, promotes bacterial life, provides humus, and in some cases, works against harmful nematodes.

Names:
Latin: Dalea purpurea
Dutch: Prairieklaver
Also: Purperklaver
English: Purple Prairie Clover