Lespedeza capitata

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Lespedeza capitata

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Kemper Code: A241

Common Name: bush clover
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Fabaceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: United States
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: July - September Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Creamy white with magenta spot
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Does well in infertile, dryish, sandy soils in full sun. Good drainage is essential. Tolerates drought. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Lespedeza capitata is a perennial species of bush clover that typically grows to 2-4' (less frequently to 5') tall on stiff upright stems. It is native to Missouri where it is commonly found in upland woods, thickets and prairies, on glades and along streams, railroads and roadsides (Steyermark). Tiny creamy white, pea-like flowers with a magenta spot at the base of the standard bloom in dense, rounded heads (axillary clusters) in mid to late summer. Trifoliate, alternate, almost stalkless leaves have three narrow-oblong leaflets. Leaflets may be green with little hair to gray-green and hairy depending upon the particular variety or form. Steyermark lists five different botanical varieties of this species as native to Missouri. Sometimes commonly called round-headed bush clover in reference to the rounded, clover-like flower heads and the clover-like foliage.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

Perhaps best naturalized in prairie, open woodland, native plant or wild areas.