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shrub lespedeza

Lespedeza bicolor

Summary 12

Lespedeza bicolor is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names shrubby bushclover, shrub lespedeza, and bicolor lespedeza. It is native to Asia and it is widely grown as an ornamental plant. In some regions, such as the southeastern United States, it grows in the wild as an introduced and invasive species.

Description 13

Shrub lespedeza is a perennial legume native to eastern Asia. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall stems that may reach 1/2 inch in diameter. These stems die back to the ground annually. The leaves are usually 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, with a more linear appearance than oval. The pink to purple colored flowers emerge in great masses during late summer. Bees and insects are necessary to adequately pollinate lespedezas. This species of lespedeza easily hybridizes with others of the genus, so isolation is necessary. The small, black, bean-like, seeds are singly produced in pods which open when mature. Seed maturity occurs from late September to early October. Approximately 300 to 500 pounds of seed is produced per acre on production fields. There are about 72,000 seeds per pound. This species has a high frequency of hard-coated seed which must be cracked or removed to initiate germination.

Control 14

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Steven J. Baskauf, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/baskauf/27881
  2. Tracey Slotta, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://plants.usda.gov/gallery/large/lefo3_001_lhp.jpg
  3. (c) licensed media from USDA PLANTS images without owner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=leth4_004_ahp.tif
  4. (c) "<a href=""http://nt.ars-grin.gov/"">ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=leth4_005_ahp.tif
  5. (c) Ingrid P. Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10085957
  6. (c) Ingrid P. Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10094099
  7. (c) Evan M. Raskin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Evan M. Raskin
  8. (c) Suzanne Cadwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/scadwell/9327279371/
  9. (c) Suzanne Cadwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/scadwell/9330059216/
  10. (c) Tom Austin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tom Austin
  11. (c) Janet Gingold, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Gingold
  12. Adapted by Kate Wagner from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lespedeza_bicolor
  13. Adapted by Kate Wagner from a work by Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1386853
  14. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1386858

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