ROUNDHEAD LESPEDEZA
Summary
Roundhead lespedeza is a native, warm-season perennial legume adapted to all but northern tier states of the tall prairie region of the central and eastern United States. Roundhead lespedeza is a very desirable component of warm-season grass plantings. It is readily grazed by all classes of livestock and is an important food source for upland game birds. Although found in lowland prairie sites, it tends to be more common in upland sites. The attractive silvery-sheen green foliage makes it an attractive plant for the garden. Roundhead lespedeza does not spread aggressively by rhizomes and is not a prolific seed producer.
Plant Characteristics
Taxonomy
Zone
- Regional Growing Zone
- 5 - Midwest, 6 - Northeast Lakes, 7 - Great Lakes South, 8 - Appalacia, 9 - Southeast, 10 - South Florida, 11 - South Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
- 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Temperature Zone
- Warm, Cool, Transitional
Plant Characteristics
- Height
- 24" - 60"
- Bloom Period
- Late-Summer
- Bloom Color
- White
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Growing Cycle
- Perennial
- Sun Requirement
- Full Sun
Plant Information
- Planting Season
- Fall - Spring
- Plant Depth
- .25" - .5"
- Minimum Soil Temp for Germination
- 65° F
- Establishment
- Hard
Seed Information
- Seeds Per Pound
- 125,000
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Tracheobionta
- Super Division
- Spermatophyta
- Division
- Magnoliophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Subclass
- Asteridae
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Lespedeza
- Species
- Lespedeza capitata
Coverage Area & Available Sizes
Applications
Attractive in mass plantings as well as in species mixes
When combined with grasses, forbs, and legumes.
Notes
*Special considerations for spring germination: seed germination can be improved with mechanical scarification. Seed needs to be inoculated with Rhizobium for nitrogen fixation to occur. Germination of scarified seed generally occurs within 2 weeks after planting provided adequate soil moisture and temperature conditions are met.