Department of Entomology Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Hairy bush-clover

Lespedeza (L.) hornem

Family: Fabaceae (legume)

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• Bloom Period:
  • Late,
• Growth Cycle:
  • Perennial,
• Growth Habit:
  • Forbs/Herbs,
• Insect Type Attracted:
  • Natural Enemy,
  • Pollinator,
• Light:
  • Full,
• Region:
  • Northern Lower Peninsula,
  • Southern Lower Peninsula,
  • Upper Peninsula
• Soil Moisture:
  • Dry,
• Height:
  • 2-3ft

Natural enemies attracted

Moderately attractive: Coccinellidae.

Mildly attractive: Orius insidiosus, Chalcidoidea, Thomisidae, Salticidae and Plagiognathus politus.

Pollinators attracted

Mildly attractive: bumble bees.

Pests attracted

Mildly attractive: Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, lygus bugs, thrips and leaf beetles.

Plant notes

Small white, pea-like flower spikes bloom on small-statured plants. This species did not flower until its third year of growth, and bloomed in the end of August and early September. This species was the third least attractive to natural enemies in the late season, with similar numbers of natural enemies as in the grass control.

Habitat

Hairy bush-clover grows in full sun and very dry soils. It naturally occurs in dry, open areas, often with sandy ground, such as along roadways, river banks and fields. Sometimes it's associated with oak and oak-hickory woods.

Cultivation and management

This plant can be grown from seed (flowers in fourth year) or plug material (flowers in third year). It is nitrogen-fixing and will grow on dry, infertile sites.