*Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont de Courset) G. Don. Common name: Sericea Lespedeza, Chinese Lespedeza, Sericea. Phenology: Jul-Oct; Oct-Dec. Habitat: Roadbanks, ‘wildlife food plots’, disturbed areas, floodplains, creekbanks, and invading other natural habitats. Distribution: Native of e. Asia. Extensively used as a soil stabilizer. Now invasive across most of our region.
Origin/Endemic status: E. and se. Asia
Taxonomy Comments: POWO (2024) recognized two varieties, var. cuneata and var. serpens (Nakai) Ohwi, the latter not known to be introduced in North America. See Nemoto et al. (2010) for a discussion on infrageneric classification.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, Fl3, FNA11.1, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, RAB, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Isely (1998); Anthyllis cuneata Dum.Cours. > Lespedeza cuneata var. cuneata — POWO. Basionym: Anthyllis cuneata Dum.Cours. 1811
Links to other floras: = Lespedeza cuneata - FNA11.1
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect short-lived perennial/annual found on road banks and in wildlife food plots, disturbed areas, floodplains, creek banks and invading other natural habitats. Native of e. Asia.
Stems: Stems slender and ridged or grooved, branched and covered with dense, upwardly pressed hairs.
Leaves: Leaves alternate and crowded; short-petiolate; dvided into 3 blunt-tipped, narrowly oblong leaflets, each leaflet to 1 in. long, gray-green and covered with dense, short, white, close-pressed hairs.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary (or 2-4) on tiny stalks from upper and middle leaf axils; creamy-white; about 1/3 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal bearing purple veins.
Fruits:
Comments: Brought to the U.S. to control erosion and for wildlife food plots, this species has spread dramatically and is a nuisance in natural areas.
Height: 2-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect short-lived perennial/annual found on road banks and in wildlife food plots, disturbed areas, floodplains, creek banks and invading other natural habitats. Native of e. Asia.
stems: Stems slender and ridged or grooved, branched and covered with dense, upwardly pressed hairs.
leaves: Leaves alternate and crowded; short-petiolate; dvided into 3 blunt-tipped, narrowly oblong leaflets, each leaflet to 1 in. long, gray-green and covered with dense, short, white, close-pressed hairs.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary (or 2-4) on tiny stalks from upper and middle leaf axils; creamy-white; about 1/3 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal bearing purple veins.
fruits:
comments: Brought to the U.S. to control erosion and for wildlife food plots, this species has spread dramatically and is a nuisance in natural areas.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern Asia
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