Round-headed Bush Clover

About Round-headed Bush Clover

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.