Japanese Clover (or Korean Clover/Common Lespedeza, interspersed with stray grass blades)
Kummerowia striata · Warm-season, Annual, C3-C4 intermediate legume weed in turf contexts
Grass Family
Fabaceae (Legume family, not a true grass Poaceae, though found mixed with turf)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass or Pasture Legume
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / Common Lespedeza
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9
About This Grass
Forms low-growing mats of small, oval, clover-like trifoliate leaves with prominent parallel veins on reddish-brown stems, interspersed with narrow grass blades.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are divided into three oblong-oval leaflets with smooth margins and distinct parallel side veins; leaflets are about 0.5 to 1 inch long.
Root System
Taproot system with nitrogen-fixing nodules, allowing it to thrive in poor, low-fertility, and compacted soils.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to eastern Asia including China, Japan, Korea; naturalized throughout North America
Growth Habit
Prostrate to erect, branching stems forming a dense mat or patch
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, highly drought-tolerant once established, prefers acidic to neutral soils with low nitrogen.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low-growing nature allows it to survive low mowing; difficult to control with standard turf management without selective herbicides or raising soil fertility.
Special Characteristics
Tolerates poor soil fertility, soil compaction, and low mowing heights; fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Ecological Information
Often considered a lawn weed in turfgrass, but valued in pastures as a forage legume for livestock and wildlife (quail, deer) due to high protein content.