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Pediomelum spp.
Overview
Pediomelum spp. is a genus of about 25 perennial legumes native to the grasslands and dry plains of North America. Plants arise from deep woody taproots or tuberous roots and produce upright to spreading stems 8-32 inches (20-80 cm) tall, often dotted with glands and short hairs that give the foliage a grayish, scurfy surface. Leaves are palmately compound with three to seven leaflets. Pea-type flowers are borne in dense spikes or clusters in late spring and summer, in blue, purple, lavender, and occasionally white, each 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) long. The genus includes P. esculentum, the prairie turnip, whose starchy tuber was a staple food of Plains peoples, along with P. cuspidatum and P. argophyllum of the central grasslands. Most species are deeply drought-tolerant, drawing moisture from taproots that reach several feet into prairie soil, and they go dormant by late summer as the plains dry. Some species detach at the root crown and tumble to scatter seed. Like other legumes, Pediomelum spp. fixes nitrogen through root nodules. The deep taproot makes established plants hard to transplant, and the genus is intolerant of disturbance and wet winter soils.
Native Range
Pediomelum spp. is native to North America, concentrated in the Great Plains and prairies from Canada south through the central United States into Texas and northern Mexico. Species grow in dry grasslands, rocky barrens, and open woodland margins.Suggested Uses
Pediomelum spp. is planted in native prairie restorations, dry meadow gardens, and pollinator plantings on lean soils. The deep taproot suits unirrigated sites where many ornamentals struggle.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'8"
Width/Spread8" - 2'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue, purple, lavender, or whiteFoliage Description
gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight