Summer Farewell
Dalea pinnata
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © jonas_meyer (iNaturalist #255635266)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Dalea
- Species:
- Dalea pinnata
- USDA Symbol:
- DAPI2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Grape Leafminer (Stegasta bosqueella), Hickory Tussock Moth (Anacamptodes humaria), Walshia floridensis
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern (Bombus impatiens) Butterflies:Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Northern Broken-Dash (Polites egeremet), Southern Broken-Dash (Polites otho), Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; fire maintains open sandhills habitat where this species thrives.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in sandy prairies and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination of hard seed coat; may benefit from inoculation with Rhizobium.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI