Common and Korean lespedezas (Kummerowia stipulacea) are introduced, annual, warm-season legumes. Flowers and seeds are borne in the leaf axils at the tips of stems and branches in the Korean lespedeza and in the leaf axils all along the stem in common lespedeza. Two types of flowers are produced. One is readily seen as purple-bluish and the other has no petals and is inconspicuous. Korean lespedeza has a much broader leaflet and stipule than common, and growth is generally larger and coarser. Common lespedeza grows more prostrate. The seed varies from the shiny black of Korean to the stippled seed of common. There are approximately 343,000 seeds per pound of common lespedeza and 240,000 seeds per pound of Korean lespedeza.

Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) Hook. & Arn.

Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl.:
India (Asia)
Japan (Asia)
North Korea (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
Taiwan (Asia)
China (Asia)
Vietnam (Asia)
United States (North America)

Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) Hook. & Arn.:
United States (North America)

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Korean is better adapted than common lespedeza in the North because of its shorter life cycle. Both types grow in a pH range of 4.5-7.0, but do best at 6.0-6.5. Common lespedeza (cultivar ‘Kobe’) is more tolerant of acid soils. They both grow in soil textures ranging from sands to clays and at fertility levels from low to high.

Common lespedeza is distributed throughout the east and southern Midwest. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Annual, Herbs, Taproot present, Nodules present, Stems or branches arching, spreading or decumbent, Stems prostrate, trailing, or mat forming, Stems less than 1 m tall, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs sparsely to densely hairy, Leaves alternate, Stipules conspicuous, Stipules membranous or chartaceous, Stipules persistent, Stipules free, Leaves compound, Leaves palmately 2-3 foliate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets alternate or subopposite, Leaflets 3, Leaves glabrous or nearly so, Leaves hairy on one or both surfaces, Flowers solitary in axils, or appearing solitary, Flowers in axillary clusters or few-floweredracemes, 2-6 flowers, Inflorescence ament-like, Inflorescence axillary, Bracteoles present, Flowers zygomorphic, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx 4-lobed, Calyx glabrous, Petals separate, Corolla papilionaceous, Petals white, Petals pinkish to ro se, Petals bicolored or with red, purple or yellow streaks or spots, Banner petal narrow or oblanceolate, Wing petals narrow, oblanceolate to oblong, Keel tips obtuse or rounded, not beaked, Stamens 9-10, Stamens diadelphous, 9 united, 1 free, Filaments glabrous, Style terete, Reduced cleistogamous flowers produced, Fruit a legume, Fruit unilocular, Fruit indehiscent, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit enclosed in calyx, Fruit beaked, Fruit hairy, Fruit 1-seeded, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black.

Seeding should be done in the early spring at a rate of 25 to 40 lb/acre in a well prepared seedbed. Seeding may be accomplished by drilling or broadcasting. If drilling, the seed should be placed at a depth of ½ inch. When broadcasting the seed, incorporate lightly by raking and then pack the soil surface. As with all legumes, the correct species rhizobial bacteria innoculant should be used. Annual Lespedeza may be seeded alone or preferably mixed with grain, grass, or other legumes. Soil fertility should be adjusted according to soil test recommendations.

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Annual lespedezas are relatively unaffected by insect pests and diseases.

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

‘Kobe’ is the one important variety of common lespedeza. The three cultivars of Korean are ‘Climax’, ‘Harbin’, and ‘Rowan’. Seed is readily available from commercial seed dealers

Annual lespedezas should be grazed or cut for hay when in ½ bloom stage. All harvesting methods should leave a 3-inch stubble. Lespedezas are good companions with bunch-type grasses such as timothy, orchardgrass, and tall fescue. Sod-forming grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass provide too much competition. The advantage of using lespedeza with grasses is that the legume can provide much needed summer grazing when cool-season grasses are dramatically slower in biomass production. Lespedezas will reseed themselves but must be mechanically reseeded at some point to maintain adequate stands.

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

Annual lespedezas are generally used for wildlife food and cover, forage, cover or nurse crop, and as temporary cover for erosion control.