Roundhead Lespedeza
Lespedeza capitata
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
H. Zell
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lespedeza
- Species:
- Lespedeza capitata
- USDA Symbol:
- LECA8
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Black-spotted prominent (Dasylophia anguina), Io moth (Automeris io), Porphyrosela desmodiella, Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble (Bombus pensylvanicus), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) Butterflies:Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rootstock after fire; historically common in fire-maintained prairies and benefits from periodic burning.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to prairies and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination significantly; hot water treatment or mechanical scarification recommended before cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are planted in late April using a Love seeder set at 3rd gear at 22 setting into prepared field beds.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from private growers. Roundhead bushclover is found throughout the eastern and central United States.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires scarification.