• Photo of Lespedeza capitata (Lespedeza capitatas)

Plant Profile: Lespedeza capitata

Taxonomy: Lespedeza capitata

Names

Bush Clover, Round Headed Bush-clover

  • Photo of Lespedeza capitata (Lespedeza capitatas)

Phonetic Spelling:

Genus:Lespedeza

Species:capitata

Family:Fabaceae

Round-Headed Bush-Clover is a native wildflower belonging to the legume family, specifically the pea family, and can be found throughout North Carolina. Its small white flowers bloom in clusters from late summer to fall. This plant is highly beneficial for wildlife, serving as a host for butterflies, a source of forage, and a nectar provider for pollinators, while its seeds are a food source for birds and small mammals.

It thrives in various well-drained soil types and exhibits drought resistance, making it an excellent choice for naturalized settings.

Preferred habitats include woodlands and their edges, meadows, fens, prairies, and sand dunes.

Lespedeza capitata Feature Summary

Lespedeza capitata Image Gallery

Tags

#wildlife plant
#native perennial
#NC native
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#Coastal FACU
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#eastern tailed-blue butterfly

Similar Plants

Lespedeza capitata Feature Summary

Attributes
North and southeastern U.S.A.
This plant supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) larvae which has many broods from February-November. The adult butterflies feed on low-lying, open or short-tubed flowers such as white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, and asters. It also attracts birds, bees, and mammals.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Wildlife Larval Host
Fruit
Fruit is a fuzzy pod with 1 seed. Persist into winter. Displays from September to November.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
2-5 inch long clusters of flowers appear in the apex and top of the central stem. There are numerous hairy bracts, from which the small white flowers barely protrude. The 1/4- 1/2 inch flowers have 5 petals and a patch of purple near the throat. Blooms August- Oct.
White
Gold/Yellow
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
The trifoliate leaves occur alternately along the stem on short petioles, up to 3" long and 1" across, ovate, margins entire, widely scattered white hairs, and a prominent central vein. Underside silky pubescent.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
The central stem is slightly ridged and covered with white hairs.
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Small Mammals

Lespedeza capitata Attributes

Lespedeza capitata: Country Or Region Of Origin

North and southeastern U.S.A.

Lespedeza capitata: Wildlife Value

This plant supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) larvae which has many broods from February-November. The adult butterflies feed on low-lying, open or short-tubed flowers such as white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, and asters. It also attracts birds, bees, and mammals.

Lespedeza capitata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Lespedeza capitata: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Lespedeza capitata Fruit

Lespedeza capitata: Fruit Description

Fruit is a fuzzy pod with 1 seed. Persist into winter. Displays from September to November.

Lespedeza capitata: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Lespedeza capitata: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Lespedeza capitata: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Lespedeza capitata Flowers

Lespedeza capitata: Flower Description

2-5 inch long clusters of flowers appear in the apex and top of the central stem. There are numerous hairy bracts, from which the small white flowers barely protrude. The 1/4- 1/2 inch flowers have 5 petals and a patch of purple near the throat. Blooms August- Oct.

Lespedeza capitata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
White

Lespedeza capitata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Lespedeza capitata: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Lespedeza capitata: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Lespedeza capitata Leaves

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Description

The trifoliate leaves occur alternately along the stem on short petioles, up to 3" long and 1" across, ovate, margins entire, widely scattered white hairs, and a prominent central vein. Underside silky pubescent.

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Lespedeza capitata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Lespedeza capitata: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Lespedeza capitata Stem

Lespedeza capitata: Stem Description

The central stem is slightly ridged and covered with white hairs.

Lespedeza capitata: Stem Color

grass
Green

Lespedeza capitata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Lespedeza capitata: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Lespedeza capitata Whole Plant Traits

Lespedeza capitata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Lespedeza capitata Cultural Conditions

Lespedeza capitata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Lespedeza capitata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Lespedeza capitata: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Lespedeza capitata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Lespedeza capitata: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Lespedeza capitata Landscape

Lespedeza capitata: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Lespedeza capitata: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Lespedeza capitata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Lespedeza capitata: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees