Lespedeza Species, Chinese Bush Lespedeza

I have not grown this plant. Chinese bush lespedeza, a subshrub, can tolerate soil pH as low as 4.5 and infertile soils; however, its o...Read Moreptimum pH range is 6.0-6.5. It is used for erosion control, pasture, hay, cover crops and wildlife food and cover. It can be found in Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), District of Columbia (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Nebraska (NE), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Pennsylvania (PA), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV) and Wisconsin (WI). It is listed as a noxious weed in Colorado and Kansas.

It produces small white to pale yellow flowers which have two purple splotches at the base of the standard.

Chinese Bush Lespedeza, Sericea Lespedeza Lespedeza cuneata is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas.

This was planted fairly extensively in my youth for pasture and hay. It is not very good for either but it is very hardy, will grow in ve...Read Morery poor soils and fixes nitrogen, Introduced into the USA in 1896. Probably the best thing I can say about it is that Bob White quail love it. Because of its hardiness it is considered a weed particularly in the western states. Never had a problem with it in Virginia. With crop rotation, cultivated row row crops controlled it. Also known as Chinese Bush Clover. Today the primary use is for wildlife plots

Colorado Class A Noxious Weed. Mandatory eradication.
All locations of this plant in Colorado should be immediately reported to th...Read Moree Colorado Department of Agriculture.