shrubby lespedeza

Fabales > Fabaceae > Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.
Synonym(s): bicolor lespedeza, shrub lespedeza
Shrubby lespedeza is an upright semi-woody forb, 3 to 10 ft. (0.9-3 m) in height with many slender stems and arching branches. Leaves are elliptical, alternate, abundant and three-parted. Leaflets are oval with the lower surface lighter than the upper surface. Flowering occurs in the summer, when purple, pea-like flowers develop in clusters. Flowers are less than 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long. Shrubby lespedeza is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas, forming dense thickets, which displace native vegetation. Native to Asia and introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, shrubby lespedeza has been widely planted for wildlife habitat, especially for northern bobwhite quail.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Selected Images

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Number:2307239
Description: Plant(s); August
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:9005088
Description: Plant(s); in flower in July
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
 Additional Resolutions and Image Usage
 
Number:2307233
Description: Foliage; July
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
 Additional Resolutions and Image Usage
 
Number:2307234
Description: Flower(s); July
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
 Additional Resolutions and Image Usage
 
Number:1342008
Description: Fruit(s); Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN.
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:5307078
Description: Seed(s);
Photographer:Carole Ritchie, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
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Number:1342030
Description: Foliage; Tift County, GA
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:5345062
Description: Flower(s);
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:5330028
Description: Infestation; lespedeza
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:2132021
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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External Links

Invasive Reference(s)

Subject Reference(s)

  • USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. - http://plants.usda.gov/