Prostrate Lespedeza
Kummerowia stipulacea · Warm-season, annual broadleaf weed mimicking grass habits
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9
Grass Family
Fabaceae
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
About This Grass
Low-growing, branching summer annual weed forming dense mats with trifoliate leaves and woody stems
Blade Characteristics
Not a true grass; trifoliate leaves with elliptical leaflets, prominent veins, and smooth margins
Root System
Taproot system with fibrous branching, extremely tough and difficult to pull by hand when mature
Growing Information
Origin Region
Asia (Eastern Asia, China, Korea, Japan); widely naturalized in North America
Growth Habit
Prostrate mat-forming spreading via branching stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun, highly drought tolerant, thrives in compacted, low-fertility soils with low moisture
Mowing & Maintenance
Survives low mowing by growing flat against the ground, high maintenance to eradicate
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to poor soil, compaction, and low mowing heights; crowds out weak turf
Ecological Information
Introduced species, provides minor forage value for wildlife but generally considered an invasive weed in turfgrass