Pollinator plant

Thunberg's lespedeza

Lespedeza thunbergii

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Common names

14 names · 9 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (8)
Dutch
  • Bosklaver
  • Struikklaver
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 日本胡枝子[2]
  • 美丽胡枝子[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美麗胡枝子[2]
Czech
  • lespedézie Thunbergova[2]
Japanese
  • ミヤギノハギ[2]
Korean
Russian
  • Леспедеца Тунберга[2]
Slovak
  • lespedéza Thunbergova[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Lespedeza thunbergii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Thunberg's lespedeza — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • Bush Clover — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
[2] Lespedeza thunbergii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Thunberg's lespedeza — results[12].names[1]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • Bush Clover — results[12].names[8]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • ミヤギノハギ — results[12].names[2]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • lespedézie Thunbergova — results[12].names[3]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • 日本胡枝子 — results[12].names[4]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • 풀싸리 — results[12].names[5]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • 美麗胡枝子 — results[12].names[6]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • 美丽胡枝子 — results[12].names[7]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • Леспедеца Тунберга — results[12].names[9]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • lespedéza Thunbergova — results[12].names[10]; taxon id 138984; Lespedeza thunbergii.
[3] Lespedeza thunbergii — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Bush Clover — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • Thunberg Bush Clover — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Lespedeza thunbergii.
  • Thunberg Lespedeza — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Lespedeza thunbergii.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Lespedeza thunbergii is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Fabaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Arching

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Himalaya to C. & S. China and Temp. E. Asia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Thunberg's lespedeza (Lespedeza thunbergii) is a shrub. It flowers from July to August.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Lespedeza thunbergii — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2288059; ID 6PRH2; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2288059; ID 6PRH2; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Lespedeza thunbergii — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Lespedeza thunbergii — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 55545; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 769014, 769015, 769016, 769017, 769018, 769019, 769020, 769021, 769022

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.