Description
Lespedeza – Bush Clover –
There are about 40 species of prostrate or trailing annuals, perennials, and deciduous subshrubs and shrubs in this genus. They occur in meadows, grassland, and rocky places in Southeastern Asia, Australia, and North America. They are grown for their small, pea-like flowers, profusely borne in axillary or terminal racemes. Leaves are alternate and 3 palmate. Excellent late flowering plants for a mixed or shrub border.
Grow in light, moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Divide in spring.
Prone to powdery mildew, tar spot, rust, stem rot, and leafhoppers.
L. bicolor – Ezo-yama-hagi – This upright shrub from Eastern Asia and Japan grows 6-10′ feet tall and 6′ feet wide. From arching shoots it carries clover like, 3 palmate, mid to dark green leaves consisting of broadly oval to obovate leaflets, to 2″ long with paler undersides. In mid and late summer it bears rosy-purple flowers, to ½” long, are borne in slender loose racemes, 2-5″ or more long.
Zones 5-8
