Round-headed Bush Clover is a stately and resilient native legume that adds both structural beauty and ecological richness to the late-summer garden. Growing 2 to 5 feet tall on rigid, unbranched stems, this perennial features silvery-green, trifoliate leaves that are covered in fine, silky hairs. Its most striking feature is the dense, rounded clusters of creamy-white to greenish flowers that appear in late summer, eventually turning into persistent, dark brown seed heads that provide winter interest and food for wild turkeys and songbirds. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it actually improves the soil it grows in, making it a valuable addition to restoration projects and prairie plantings. Native to dry prairies and open woodlands, it is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Whether used as a focal point in a native bed or as part of a larger meadow, Round-headed Bush Clover is a tough, reliable performer that supports a wide array of pollinators, including long-tongued bees and butterflies.

Quick facts

• Height: 2–5 ft
• Sun: Full to Partial
• Soil moisture: Medium to Dry
• Bloom time: Aug–Sep (Green)
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Notes: Wild Turkey food, Legume, Rhizomatous
• Native range: Native to 37 states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska

See the full growing guide and county range map for Round-headed Bush Clover