Sign In 
Get Premium Thunberg’s Bush-Clover
(Lespedeza thunbergii)
Thunberg’s Bush-Clover (Lespedeza thunbergii)
/
/
Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg
CC BY-SA 3.0
Image By:
Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 3.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Wmeinhart | Publisher: Wikipedia Commons
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lespedeza thunbergii, commonly known as Thunberg’s Bush-Clover, is a deciduous subshrub native to open woodlands, grasslands, and hillsides in East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. It typically grows up to 2 meters (7 feet) tall and 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters) in diameter, with annual stems that die back at the end of the growing season. The plant is adorned with abundant pink to purplish flowers that bloom in late summer, offering a showy display that attracts pollinators. The fruit is a legume pod containing black seeds, which are not particularly ornamental.
Thunberg’s Bush-Clover is valued for its late-season blooms and ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility. It is used in border plantings, as a ground cover, and for erosion control due to its robust root system. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to a range of soil types, including those with varying drainage capabilities. While it requires medium amounts of water, it can tolerate some drought once established. Gardeners should be cautious, as Lespedeza thunbergii can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in the United States. It is recommended to check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Thunberg’s Bush-Clover is valued for its late-season blooms and ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility. It is used in border plantings, as a ground cover, and for erosion control due to its robust root system. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to a range of soil types, including those with varying drainage capabilities. While it requires medium amounts of water, it can tolerate some drought once established. Gardeners should be cautious, as Lespedeza thunbergii can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in the United States. It is recommended to check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type:
- Height: 3-6 feet
- Width: 3-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands, grasslands, and hillsides in East Asia
Other Names
Common Names: , Lespédèze De Thunberg
Scientific Names: Lespedeza thunbergii , Lespedeza kuisiana , Lespedeza thunbergii var. obtusifolia , Desmodium thunbergii , Hedysarum heterocarpon , Hedysarum hetrocarpon , Lespedeza japonica var. retusa , Lespedeza luchuensis , Lespedeza patens var. obtusifolia
GBIF Accepted Name: Lespedeza thunbergii (DC.) Nakai