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Native alternative(s) for Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii 'Little Volcano':
Lespedeza capitata Form
Lespedeza virginica Flower
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Betonica officinalis 2 lipped purple red flowers
Buddleja Lo & BeholdĀ® 'Pink Micro Chip' 'Pink Micro Chip' blossom
Lespedeza thunbergii Lespedeza thunbergii

Little Volcano Bush Clover Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii 'Little Volcano'

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Lespedeza liukiuensis
Phonetic Spelling
less-pe-DEEZ-a thun-BERJ-ee-eye thun-BERJ-ee-eye
Description

'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.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#cottage garden#mass planting#erosion control#naturalized area#flowers late summer#small group plantings#flowers early fall#pea-shaped flowers#shrub borders
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#cottage garden#mass planting#erosion control#naturalized area#flowers late summer#small group plantings#flowers early fall#pea-shaped flowers#shrub borders
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lespedeza
    Species:
    thunbergii
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China and Japan
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    This cultivar does not produce seed so is less weedy than other members of the genus.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    fused petals
    Flower Description:
    Late summer to early fall cascading rose to purple pea-like flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Trifolate dark green, gold in the fall.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Erosion