Common Cattail vs Purple Prairie Clover - TreeTime.ca

Common Cattail vs Purple Prairie Clover

Typha latifolia

Dalea purpurea

ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Common Cattail
Purple Prairie Clover

Cattail is found all across North America, growing next to water. Like other waterside plants, Cattail provides erosion control and forage for animals.

It is suitable for land reclamation. Cattail is able to tolerate cold weather and occasional flooding.

Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Common Cattail seeds at SeedTime.ca.

Purple Prairie Clover is a native perennial wildflower known for its striking purple blooms. The flower heads grow as dense spikes on tall stems, with each flower head containing many tiny blossoms. Blooming for 4–6 weeks in the summer, it attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

The high protein content of the Purple Prairie Clover makes it excellent forage for wildlife and birds like to feed on its seeds. As a nitrogen-fixing plant, it enriches the soil, improving fertility and benefiting nearby vegetation. These ecological contributions make it a great choice for pollinator gardens, prairie & rangeland restoration, naturalization, and re-vegetation efforts.

This drought and heat-tolerant plant thrives in various soil conditions, including rocky soil, making it remarkably easy to grow in challenging environments. As a perennial, it dies back to the crown each winter, it will regrow from the base in the spring. Avoid disturbing the crown during late winter to ensure healthy growth the following season.

Common Cattail Quick Facts

Purple Prairie Clover Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Moisture: wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Flowers: yellow and green
Flowers: purple flowers in dense cone-like heads
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none




Other Names: baco, bulrush, cat o nine tails, cossack asparagus, flag, reed mace, rush
Other Names: violet prairie-clover