Lespedeza tomentosa

Lespedeza tomentosa

Native to:
China, India, Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Lespedeza
Species:
Lespedeza tomentosa
USDA Symbol:
LETO9

Growth Characteristics

Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
cream, yellow, purple

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rootstock following fire; historically associated with fire-maintained open woodlands and prairies.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Scarification of the hard seed coat followed by cold stratification improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI