Sericea Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata · Warm-season perennial legume (not a true grass, but categorized as such in the provided context for broad identification)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Invasive/Weed Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9
Grass Family
Fabaceae
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type
About This Grass
An herbaceous perennial plant featuring fine-textured, alternate, trifoliate leaves with wedge-shaped leaflets. Stems can grow 2 to 4 feet tall, becoming woody at the base with age. Produces small, yellowish-white or purple flowers followed by single-seeded flattened pods.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are trifoliate with linear to wedge-shaped (cuneate) leaflets, roughly 0.5 to 1 inch long, featuring prominent parallel side veins diverging from the midrib and fine silky hairs on the underside.
Root System
Deep, woody taproot system allowing high drought tolerance and persistence in poor, acidic soils
Growing Information
Origin Region
Asia (China, Japan, Korea); naturalized in the United States, particularly the Southeast and Midwest
Growth Habit
Stiffly erect, branching perennial herbaceous plant forming dense stands
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun; highly drought resistant once established; prefers well-drained soils but adapts to poor fertility and low pH
Mowing & Maintenance
Resilient to frequent cutting or grazing, though control requires herbicides or intensive management due to aggressive spread
Special Characteristics
High tannin content makes mature forage unpalatable to livestock; highly invasive in native prairies and pastures; exceptional drought tolerance and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen
Ecological Information
Introduced species often considered a noxious weed and invasive threat to native grasslands, though occasionally planted for erosion control and wildlife cover