Sericea Lespedeza (Note: This is a legume, not a true grass, shown amidst grassy vegetation)
Lespedeza cuneata · Warm-season, Perennial, C3 legume (often mistaken for grass in meadows)
Grass Family
Fabaceae (Legume Family), Subfamily Faboideae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Invasive Weed, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild-type (Invasive variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-9; tolerant of extreme summer heat and moderately cold winters; goes dormant after first frost.
About This Grass
An upright, semi-woody perennial reaching 3-6 feet. It features dense grayish-green foliage and tiny creamy-white to yellowish pea-like flowers with purple throats. The stems become very coarse and woody with age.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are trifoliate (three leaflets). Leaflets are wedge-shaped (cuneate), 0.5 to 1 inch long, with a rounded tip featuring a small point (mucronate). Color is dull green with silky silver hairs beneath.
Root System
Deep, branched taproot system that allows for extreme drought resistance and soil stabilization, though it does not form a grass-like sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern Asia; widely naturalized in North America, especially the Southeast and Midwest USA
Growth Habit
Clump-forming/Bunch-type with woody base and erect, branching stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; highly drought-tolerant; thrives in poor, acidic, or eroded soils; low water requirements once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low maintenance; requires frequent mowing or prescribed burning to control spread. If used for hay, must be cut early before tannin levels rise and stems become too woody.
Special Characteristics
High tannin content makes it unpalatable to cattle when mature; extreme salt and drought tolerance; highly invasive in prairie ecosystems; nitrogen-fixing ability.
Ecological Information
Invasive species in North America; displaces native grasses and forbs; provides cover for quail and small mammals but creates monocultures that reduce overall biodiversity.