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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.
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 feet, that is native to 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 foliage is clover-like and the leaflets up to 3 x 1.5 ( usually half ) inches in size are luxuriant bright green above and paler below.
The rosy-purple, pea-like flowers, up to 0.5 inches, are borne in loose racemes up to 5 inches in length, during mid summer.
Pharmacology: Known to produce l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on just about any well drained soil.
Ledpedeza buergeri
A shrub reaching up to 10 feet or rarely more that is native to Manchuria and Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 20 feet.
The small pea-like flowers up to 0.5 inches are purple and white and borne in clusters up to 14 inches in length.
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
Lespedeza capitata ( Roundhead Bush Clover )
An upright perennial, reaching up to 5 feet in height, that is native to upland prairies and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from South Dakota to Minnesota to northern Michigan to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida and South Carolina ).
The trifoliate leaves are composed of oval to oblong leaflets up to 3 inches in length. The entire plant is covered in silvery hairs.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.25 inches, are borne on rounded terminal clusters, 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 soil. It is very drought tolerant and the roots fix their own nitrogen.
Soak seed 24 hours in warm water before sowing.
* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.
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 shrubby perennial or shrub, native to China 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 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 autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is deep rooted and tolerates hot dry sites.
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
Alba
White flowers.
Edo Shindori
Flowers are pink and white.
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
Split Milk
* 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.
RELATED PLANTS
Campylotropis macrocarpa ( False Bush Clover )
An upright, dense, deciduous shrub, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 5 feet, that is native to northern China and Korea. Some records include: 4 years - 5.5 feet.
The pinnate leaves are composed of 3 oval to rounded leaflets that are olive-green.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow during autumn.
The very profuse, showy, violet-pink flowers are borne on clusters up to 6 inches in length, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, very well drained soil. It is very easy to grow. Drought tolerant. Prune hard during early spring.
Bush Clover
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.
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 feet, that is native to 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 foliage is clover-like and the leaflets up to 3 x 1.5 ( usually half ) inches in size are luxuriant bright green above and paler below.
The rosy-purple, pea-like flowers, up to 0.5 inches, are borne in loose racemes up to 5 inches in length, during mid summer.
Pharmacology: Known to produce l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on just about any well drained soil.
Ledpedeza buergeri
A shrub reaching up to 10 feet or rarely more that is native to Manchuria and Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 20 feet.
The small pea-like flowers up to 0.5 inches are purple and white and borne in clusters up to 14 inches in length.
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
Lespedeza capitata ( Roundhead Bush Clover )
An upright perennial, reaching up to 5 feet in height, that is native to upland prairies and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from South Dakota to Minnesota to northern Michigan to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida and South Carolina ).
The trifoliate leaves are composed of oval to oblong leaflets up to 3 inches in length. The entire plant is covered in silvery hairs.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.25 inches, are borne on rounded terminal clusters, 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 soil. It is very drought tolerant and the roots fix their own nitrogen.
Soak seed 24 hours in warm water before sowing.
* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.
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 shrubby perennial or shrub, native to China 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 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 autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is deep rooted and tolerates hot dry sites.
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
Alba
White flowers.
Edo Shindori
Flowers are pink and white.
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
Split Milk
* 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.
RELATED PLANTS
Campylotropis macrocarpa ( False Bush Clover )
An upright, dense, deciduous shrub, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 5 feet, that is native to northern China and Korea. Some records include: 4 years - 5.5 feet.
The pinnate leaves are composed of 3 oval to rounded leaflets that are olive-green.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow during autumn.
The very profuse, showy, violet-pink flowers are borne on clusters up to 6 inches in length, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, very well drained soil. It is very easy to grow. Drought tolerant. Prune hard during early spring.
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