Grow bush clover in full sun, in soil that drains, and skip extra fertilizer once the roots take. Bush clover is Lespedeza.
Give it full sun, soil that drains, and skip extra fertilizer
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun for a full bloom; light afternoon shade is fine | Do not plant it in deep shade if you want a full crop of flowers |
| Soil | Soil that drains; sand, loam, or clay is fine if water does not stand | Do not plant it in a low wet hole |
| Water | Water a new plant through the first dry season, then skip extra water once the roots take | Do not water an established plant on a weekly calendar |
| Kind | Thunberg bush clover for a 4- to 6-foot arching fountain; slender lespedeza for a 2- to 3-foot native stem | Do not buy Chinese bush clover if you wanted either of these plants |
| Feed | Skip extra fertilizer; the roots fix nitrogen in poor ground | Do not dump extra nitrogen that pushes soft growth and fewer flowers |
| Deer | Thunberg bush clover is usually left alone | Do not treat slender lespedeza as deer-proof; deer browse those stems |
Bush clover wants sun and a hole that drains. Water a new plant through the first dry season so the roots take, then skip extra water; an established plant takes dry weather better than a wet hole. [1] Thunberg bush clover is the arching fountain for a wall or a shrub border. slender lespedeza is the slender native for a meadow. Both want the same sun and drain, and both fix nitrogen, so skip extra fertilizer once they are set. [2]
- Choose full sun. Light afternoon shade is fine, but deep shade cuts the bloom.
- Set it in soil that drains. Sand, loam, or clay is fine if water does not stand around the roots.
- Water through the first dry season. After that, skip extra water unless the plant wilts in a long drought.
- Skip extra fertilizer. Extra nitrogen makes soft stems and fewer flowers.
Does bush clover need full sun?
Yes. Full sun gives the fullest bloom. Light afternoon shade is fine, but deep shade makes a thin plant with fewer flowers.
How often should I water a new bush clover?
Water a new plant through the first dry season. After that, skip extra water unless the plant wilts in a long drought, and do not leave the roots in standing water.
Which kind should I buy?
Buy Thunberg bush clover for a 4- to 6-foot arching fountain on a wall or in a shrub border. Buy slender lespedeza for a 2- to 3-foot native in a meadow. Both want sun and drain.
Plant a young pot, and leave room for the arch
Buy a young plant in a pot and set the root ball at the same depth it was already growing. Plant in spring or fall while the soil is workable. Thunberg bush clover needs room for a 4- to 6-foot arch; slender lespedeza stays about 2 to 3 feet. [3]
- Plant in spring or fall, in sun that drains.
- Knock the plant from its pot and set the root ball even with the surrounding soil. Do not bury the stems deeper than they grew in the pot.
- Leave about six feet for Thunberg bush clover so the arching stems can spill. Leave one to two feet for slender lespedeza.
- Water to settle the soil. Keep the first dry season from baking the new roots. Do not plant into a low spot that stays wet.
How much room does Thunberg bush clover need?
Leave about six feet for the arching stems. Set the root ball at the same depth as the nursery pot.
How to sow slender lespedeza
Start slender lespedeza from seed if you want a meadow patch rather than a nursery shrub. Nick the hard seed coat, or sow in fall so winter weather cracks it, then barely cover the seed on soil that drains.
- Nick the seed coat, or sow in fall and let winter weather open it.
- Sow on soil that drains, and barely cover the seed.
- Water until the seedlings are up, then skip extra water once the roots take.
Can I grow slender lespedeza from seed?
Yes. Nick the seed coat or sow in fall, barely cover, and water until the seedlings are up. Named Thunberg selections such as Gibraltar do not come true from seed.
Cut the stems to the ground in late winter
Bush clover blooms on new wood, so cut last year's stems to the ground in late winter before new growth starts. In a hard winter the tops die back on their own; that is normal, and new stems come from the roots.
- Wait until late winter, before the new shoots move.
- Cut last year's stems to the ground, or to a few inches.
- Leave the cut. New stems grow fast once the weather warms, and the late-summer flowers form on that new wood.
- Do not wait until midsummer to cut. You would remove the wood that is about to bloom.
When should I cut bush clover back?
Late winter, before new growth starts. Cut the stems to the ground. The plant blooms on that new wood.
Does it come back after a hard winter?
Yes. The tops may die to the ground, then new stems come from the roots. Cut the dead stems in late winter so the new growth is clean.
Not lawn clover — and not Chinese bush clover
Lawn clover on a Trifolium tag is a low lawn or pasture plant — see How to Grow Clover. Bush clover is Lespedeza, a taller pea-family plant with three leaflets and late-summer flowers. Prairie clover is Dalea — see How to Grow Prairie Clover.
Chinese bush clover, also sold as sericea, is Lespedeza cuneata. It is an invasive field weed with small cream flowers and a taproot you cannot pull. [4] Slender lespedeza is the native with pink flowers on the upper stem. If the tag says Lespedeza thunbergii or Lespedeza virginica, you still have bush clover. Shrub bush clover is Lespedeza bicolor, a different Asian shrub we do not list.
Is this the same as lawn clover?
No. Lawn clover is Trifolium. Bush clover is Lespedeza, a taller plant for a border or a meadow.
Is sericea the bush clover I should plant?
No. Sericea is Chinese bush clover, an invasive field weed. Buy Thunberg bush clover or slender lespedeza, and read the Latin on the tag.
Set bush clover in full sun, in soil that drains, and skip extra fertilizer once the roots take.
FAQ
Can I grow bush clover in a pot?
Yes, for a season or two, in a pot with a drainage hole and a mix that drains. Keep it in full sun outdoors, water when the mix is dry, and empty the saucer. The plant is happier in the ground, especially Thunberg bush clover, which wants room to arch.
Is Gibraltar a different plant?
No. Gibraltar is a free-flowering selection of Thunberg bush clover. It wants the same full sun and drain as the species, and it can spread wider than the species, so leave room.
Is shrub bush clover the same plant?
No. Shrub bush clover is usually Lespedeza bicolor, a different Asian shrub. We list Thunberg bush clover and slender lespedeza.
Can I divide bush clover?
You can split a crowded crown in spring, but a young pot is the easier start. Do not count on named Thunberg plants coming true from seed.
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lespedeza-thunbergii/ - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lespedeza-virginica/ - [3] University of Arkansas Extension -
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/clover-japanesebush-11-4-11.aspx - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lespedeza-cuneata/
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors