Dalea searlsiae
Searls' prairie clover
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Dalea searlsiae (Searls' prairie clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by higher elevation, glabrous habit, and visible axis between fruits.
Searls' prairie clover is a California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains and desert mountains in juniper and sagebrush scrub on slopes and bluffs at elevations of 1,200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate lilac-pink to rose-purple flowers in dense, narrow oblong clusters. Growing with clustered ascending stems 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps with an elegant structure. Its leaves are composed of 5 to 7 obovate to oblong leaflets, each 7 to 16 millimeters long, creating a fine, delicate foliage pattern. The plant's flowers feature a distinctive calyx 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, with a banner petal 5 to 7 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by higher elevation, glabrous habit, and visible axis between fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Juniper/sagebrush scrub, slopes, bluffs
Elevation: 1200-2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Dalea searlsiae blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Astragalus: Dalea has gland-dotted sticky stems; Astragalus stems are smooth or hairy but not glandular.; vs Stillingia: Dalea has pea flowers in spikes; Stillingia has tiny flowers without pea structure.; vs Psorothamnus: Dalea has 5 stamens with petals on fused column; Psorothamnus has 10 stamens.; vs Eriogonum: Dalea has compound leaves and pea flowers; Eriogonum has simple leaves and tiny clustered flowers.; vs Psorodendron: Check if stems are gland-dotted and count stamens (Dalea has 5).
Frequently asked questions
Is Dalea searlsiae native to California?
Yes. Dalea searlsiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dalea searlsiae bloom?
Dalea searlsiae blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Dalea searlsiae grow?
Dalea searlsiae occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 1200-2000 m.
What plant family does Dalea searlsiae belong to?
Dalea searlsiae is in the Fabaceae family, genus Dalea.
What habitat does Dalea searlsiae grow in?
Dalea searlsiae grows in Juniper/sagebrush scrub, slopes, bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.