Plant Details

Lespedeza bicolor

Bush clover

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Lespedeza bicolor.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

19 names · 13 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bush clover
  • shrub lespedeza[1]
  • shrubby bushclover[1]
Other languages (12)
Dutch
  • Herfstbrem
  • Struikklaver
French
  • lespédèze bicolore[1]
  • Lespédéza bicolore
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 二色胡枝子[1]
  • 胡枝子[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 山胡枝子[1]
Czech
  • lespedézie dvoubarvá[1]
Danish
  • Tofarvet kløverbusk[1]
Finnish
  • mantsurianpensasapila[1]
Japanese
Korean
Polish
  • Lespedeza dwubarwna[1]
Russian
  • Леспедеца двуцветная[1]
Slovak
  • lespedéza dvojfarebná[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lespedeza bicolor — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • shrub lespedeza — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • shrubby bushclover — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • 싸리 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • ヤマハギ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • lespedézie dvoubarvá — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • Леспедеца двуцветная — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • 胡枝子 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • 山胡枝子 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • Tofarvet kløverbusk — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • lespédèze bicolore — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • 山萩 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • 二色胡枝子 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • mantsurianpensasapila — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • lespedéza dvojfarebná — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.
  • Lespedeza dwubarwna — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 129677; Lespedeza bicolor.

General information

Scientific name: Lespedeza bicolor
Accepted name (Kew): Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lespedeza (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Bush clover
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.52–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.52–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Arching, Erect, Open, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Leaves, Coffee, Oil, Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Wickerwork, Carbon farming, Oil

Description

Young leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten. The flowers and seeds of this plant are also edible after cooking. Sometimes they are prepared together with rice. Furthermore, the leaves serve as a substitute for coffee.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 56924; name ID 2345922; Lespedeza Michx.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 57595; name ID 2345975; Lespedeza bicolor Turcz..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lespedeza bicolor

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2288049, ID 6PRGN: Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Lespedeza bicolor — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .