Golden Prairie-clover
Dalea aurea
Last reviewed: August 2026
Dalea aurea, golden prairie-clover, is a drought tolerant forb that produces dense golden-yellow flower spikes from June through August in full sun on dry prairies and plains.
Toxicity unknown
Golden Prairie-clover (Dalea aurea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CO, KS, NE and 4 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Golden prairie-clover is a compact native perennial that forms neat, low mounds of fine-textured foliage. It produces cheerful golden-yellow flower spikes from June through August, creating bright color during the summer months. This drought-tolerant plant maintains a tidy appearance and works well in both formal and naturalistic landscapes.
Growing Golden Prairie-clover
Grow Golden Prairie-clover in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Golden Prairie-clover is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- Goes dormant in winter leaving bare stems
Wildlife value
The bright yellow flowers are magnets for native bees and butterflies throughout the summer blooming period. This plant is particularly valuable for supporting smaller native bee species that prefer the clustered flower structure.
Common questions
- When does golden prairie-clover bloom?
- Dalea aurea blooms from June through August, forming compact spikes of golden-yellow flowers on upright stems.
- What pollinators visit golden prairie-clover?
- Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Dalea aurea, drawn to its nectar and pollen during the summer bloom period.
- How much water does golden prairie-clover need?
- This forb is adapted to low water conditions and does best in well-drained soil that is allowed to dry out between waterings.
- What light and soil conditions does golden prairie-clover prefer?
- Golden prairie-clover grows best in full sun and prefers dry, open sites such as prairies, plains, and rocky grassland soils.
- Is Golden Prairie-clover HOA-friendly?
- Golden Prairie-clover is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Golden Prairie-clover? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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