NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Lespedeza virginica

Slender Lespedeza, Virginia Lespedeza, Slender Bush-clover

Scientific Name:	Lespedeza virginica
Genus:	Lespedeza
Species Epithet:	virginica
Common Name:	Slender Lespedeza, Virginia Lespedeza, Slender Bush-clover
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Fabaceae (Legume Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	1-3 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Violet
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry
Bloom Time:	July, August, September
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Sandhills, woodlands, and woodland borders. Common to very common in the NC Piedmont and most of the Coastal Plain. Fairly common to frequent in the mountains, more common in the southwestern counties. Toward the coast, it is infrequent in the far northeastern counties.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Compound
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Not Recommended for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Best in meadows or natural areas.
Leaves divided into narrow leaflets with a small point on each leaflet tip; flowers in short-stalked clusters along the upper parts of the plants. Rockingham Co., NC Lisa Lofland Gould
Narrow clusters of small purple flowers. Moore Co., NC Cami Gregg
The tips of the leaflets are more rounded in shape as compared to the non-native invasive L. cuneata which has a more truncated leaflet tip. Moore Co., NC Cami Gregg
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record