Bush Clover Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii 'Little Volcano'

'Little Volcano' Bush Clover is a deciduous shrub cultivar in the Fabaceae (pea) family that has graceful arching branches resembling a fountain.  The genus Lespedeza is a nod to the Spanish governor of West Florida (1784-1790)  Vincente Manuel de Cespedes and the species thunbergii is named abter  Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828).

Plant in full sun in soil with medium moisture.  Ensure that proper drainage is provided.  It will flower with showy pea-like pink blooms from late summer into fall, at a time when not much else is happening in the landscape.

Although indicated that this plant has a woody life cycle, it will die to the ground during hard winters in colder zones.  A good option is to cut to the ground at the end of the season.  It blooms on new wood, so cutting low will not affect the next years blooms. In areas where it does not die back, pruning can be done after the bloom period.

'Little Volcano' does not produce seed as other varieties, therefore, eliminating the possibility of becoming invasive. 

Plant in small groups or mass plant in shrub borders.  Dot them along slopes or let the attractive flowers brighten a cottage garden.  The graceful arching stems look great spilling over a garden wall or raised bed.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problem.