How to Grow Bush Clover
Lespedeza thunbergii
Bush Clover (Lespedeza thunbergii) is a hardy deciduous shrub that fills late summer and autumn with cascades of rosy-purple pea-like flowers on long arching stems. Plant in full sun in any well-drained, even poor soil. It is drought tolerant once established. Cut all stems hard back to 15-20 cm in early spring each year — this is the single most important task and keeps the plant compact and floriferous. Feed lightly in spring and again in early summer. Stems die back in winter; this is normal, not plant death.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed once in early spring as new growth appears with a balanced general-purpose fertiliser. A second light feed in early summer (June) with a low-nitrogen, high-potash product encourages abundant flowering. Avoid heavy feeding which promotes leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
Watch For
- Aphids on new shoots
- Powdery mildew in dry summers
- Waterlogging in winter (may cause root rot)
Companions
Agapanthus, Ornamental grasses, Sedum (Hylotelephium), Echinacea, Russian Sage (Perovskia)
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Needs at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. In shade the stems become leggy and flowering is greatly reduced. An open, south or west-facing border is ideal.
Watering
Low; drought tolerant once established
Water regularly for the first season after planting to help establish. Once roots are settled, Bush Clover is drought tolerant and rarely needs supplementary watering except in prolonged dry spells.
Fertilizing
Light spring and early-summer feed
Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring as growth begins and a second low-nitrogen, high-potash feed in early summer. As a legume it fixes its own nitrogen, so avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds.
Pruning
Hard cutback to 15-20 cm every spring
Cut all stems back to 15-20 cm above the base in early spring before growth starts. This is essential as flowers form on the current year's new wood. Without hard pruning the plant becomes woody and less floriferous.
Spacing
120 cm apart
Space plants 120 cm apart to allow for the wide arching spread at maturity. In a mixed border allow 150 cm from neighbouring tall shrubs.
Support
Optional staking in exposed sites
In sheltered gardens no support is needed. In windy spots place a few canes around the plant in early summer to prevent the long arching stems from sprawling onto neighbouring plants.
Growing Tips
Cut hard back every spring
All stems must be cut to 15-20 cm above the base in early spring before new growth begins. Flowers form on the current season's new wood; skipping pruning leads to a sprawling, less floriferous plant.
Thrives in poor dry soil
Bush Clover is a legume that fixes nitrogen and positively prefers lean, sharply drained soil. Rich fertile soil produces lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Avoid adding compost to the planting hole.
Late into leaf — do not assume it is dead
Stems die back to a woody crown in winter and new growth can be slow to appear in spring. Be patient and do not uproot the plant before May.
Stake in exposed positions
In exposed sites the long arching stems can be flattened by wind or rain. Place a few canes around the plant early in the season to support the stems.
