Bush Clover

Lespedeza

A genus of perennials and shrubs that are a member of the larger Legume family. They generally prefer full sun to partial shade and deep, fertile, well drained soil though many even grow on sand. They are generally not eaten by deer. Plants can be cut back hard in early spring to rejuvenate or at least to cut out dead wood. In cold climates many species may die back to the ground naturally then resprout during spring acting more like a perennial.
Can be reproduced from half hardened cuttings and seed which can be sown outdoors during spring. They hate to be transplanted so it is best sown from seed on their permanent site.

* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park

Lespedeza bicolor
A fast growing, semi-climbing shrub reaching up to 10 x 8 feet, that is native to far eastern Russia, far eastern Mongolia, Manchuria, northern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include; first year from seed - 20 inches; 4 years - 10 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet. It can also be grown as a perennial especially in the cooler part of its range, reaching up to 6 feet in a season.
The clover-like trifoliate leaves are composed of obovate leaflets up to 3 x 1.5 ( usually half ) inches in size. The foliage is luxuriant bright green above and paler below.
The rosy-purple, pea-like flowers, up to 0.6 inches long, are borne in loose racemes up to 5 inches in length, during mid to late summer.
The bark on the lower stems are fissured and gray-brown.
Pharmacology: Known to produce l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 ( possibly 3b for Mongolian seed source ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil. In cold climates it should be treated as a woody based perennial and cut back nearly to the ground each winter. It has thrived at Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Canada. Soak seed in hot water or sulfuric acid for 10 minutes before sowing 0.25 inches deep. No cold stratification is required.

* photos taken on Jul 18 2017 @ Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

* historic archive photo

Ledpedeza buergeri
A shrub reaching up to 10 feet or rarely more that is native to central & eastern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 20 x 11 + feet.
The trifoliate leaves are composed of 3 elliptical leaflets, up to 3 x 1 inches in size. The foliage is blue-green.
The small, pea-like, purple and white flowers, up to 0.5 inches long, are borne on clusters up to 14 inches in length, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7.

* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Lespedeza capitata ( Roundhead Bush Clover )
A deep-rooted, dense, woody-based, bushy, upright perennial, reaching up to 6 ( rarely over 4 ) feet in height, that is native to sandy upland prairies and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from central South Dakota to central Minnesota to northern Michigan to northern New York State to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida and South Carolina ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant along the Detroit River as well as on the Ohio shore and at Detroit, Michigan during the 1800s. It can still be found at the Ojibway Prairie in Windsor. It is endangered in South Dakota and New Brunswick. It is valuable for erosion control and the naturalistic garden.
The trifoliate leaves are composed of oval to oblong leaflets up to 3 x 0.6 ( rarely over 2 ) inches in size. The entire plant is covered in silvery hairs. The foliage turns to yellow or orangish-brown during autumn.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.25 inches, are borne on dense, rounded terminal clusters, up to 1 inch in length, lasting over a month from late summer into early autumn.
They are followed by seedheads which remain dried on the plant into winter, providing food for songbirds and quail.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun on well drained and preferrably sandy soil. It is very drought and heat tolerant and the roots fix their own nitrogen. Soak seed 24 hours in warm water before sowing. It is slow to establish but worth the wait.

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.


Lespedeza cuneata ( Chinese Lespedeza )
A deeply-taprooted, upright to arching, woody-based perennial, reaching up to 6.5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in height, that is native to eastern China. It has also naturalized in eastern North America. It is sometimes used for hay or erosion control but may become invasive on some sites. A single plant may have 20 stems in its 2nd year and 30 stems in its 3rd. They are deep rooted, often rooted at least 3 feet deep into the soil.
The trifoliate leaves are composed of 3 narrow, wedge-shaped leaflets, up to 1 x 0.2 inch in size. The grayish foliage is downy beneath.
The white ( often veined purple ) flowers, up to 0.3 inches long, are borne in axilliary clusters of 2 to 4 from late summer to mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 5a to 9 in full sun on just about any well drained soil. It can be grazed or mowed frequently if on fertile soil and the plant has been allowed to reach 1 foot in height. It should not be cut lower than 3 inches.

* photos taken on Sep 24 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken Aug 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Sep 6 2020 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2020 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Oct 20 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Appalow'
A low spreading form developed in Kentucky at the Quicksand Plant Materials Center. Kentucky.

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Lespedeza davidii ( Bigleaf Bush Clover )
A shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 9.5 feet, that is a widespread native to central and eastern China.
The leaves are composed of 3 broadly-obovate leaflets, up to 5 x 3 ( rarely over 3 x 2 ) inches.
The pink flowers are borne on terminal, conical panicles, up to 4.8 inches in length, during mid-summer to early autumn.
Up to 20 flowers may occur in a panicle.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( est )

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

'Lil Buddy'
More compact, reaching a maximum of only 6 x 6 feet.
The leaflets are narrow. The flowers are rosy-purple.

Lespedeza liukiuensis ( Little Volcano Bushclover )
A deciduous to semi-evergreen, upright, arching large shrub, reaching a maximum size of 9 x 12 feet, that is native to the Ryukyu Islands and Japan.
The small leaves are deep blue-green. They are generally evergreen until temperatures reach the mid 20s.
The showy, bright red-purple flowers smother the plant during early summer then again during most of autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil. Drought tolerant. Cut back hard during early spring.

Lespedeza thunbergii ( Bush Clover )
A long-lived, arching, woody-based perennial or shrub, native to China, Korea and Japan, that reaches up to 7 feet or more. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 8 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet.
The leaves are composed of 3 pointed, elliptical leaflets up to 2 x 1 inches in size.
The blue-green leaves are late to appear in spring however persists very late in autumn.
The rose-purple flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in dense, drooping panicles up to 30 inches in length, during late summer into mid-autumn. They attract bees and butterflies.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 ( has proven hardy at Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Canada ). It is deep rooted and tolerates hot dry sites. They are deer resistant. Plants are typically cut to ground in early spring for better form.
Pharmacology: Likely to contain Tryptamines.

* photo taken on August 2004 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD



* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* Photos courtesy of USDA NRCS.

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* historic archive photo

'Alba'
White flowers.

* photo taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

'Avalanche'
Pure white flowers; otherwise identical to species.

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

'Edo Shindori'
Flowers are pink and white; otherwise identical to species.

'Gibraltar'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet as a perennial, taller as a woody shrub.
It very profusely bears lavender-pink flowers.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photo taken in Sep 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photo taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Little Buddy'
Compact and dwarf in habit, reaching just 3 x 3 feet, with pink flowers.

* photo taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Split Milk'
Arching in habit, reaching up to 4 x 6 feet in size, with mid-green foliage that is heavily splashed creamy-white.

* photo taken on May 5 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

'Spring Grove'
Gracefully arching in habit, reaching up to 8 x 10 feet, profusely bearing deep red-purple flowers during late summer.

'White Fountain'
A massive perennial, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet, profusely bearing white flowers during late summer and autumn.

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

'VA-70'
A vigorous form that is often planted with switch grass to form wildlife cover and supress weeds on ditch banks. It originated with the USDA. The seeds are valuable fall and winter food for quail, pheasants and multiple songbirds.

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.