Species bush clover
Magenta flowers with green leaves and white stems

bush clover

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade'

Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade') is a graceful, evergreen shrub that grows up to 4 feet tall. The pretty cascading pink blooms cover the bush in the early summer. This hardy bush is suitable to plant in USDA zones 5 to 8 and thrives in full sun and slightly acidic soil. Once established, bush clover is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. This easy-to-grow woody shrub adds a delightful splash of color and charm to any garden and provides a lovely background for other blooming plants.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Pink Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

purple,pink

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Bush clover should be watered once a week, using enough water to moisten the top 6 inches of soil and keep it evenly moist. Avoid overwatering, as this plant does not tolerate soggy soils. Water in the morning so the foliage has a chance to dry off throughout the day to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

sunlight

Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade') requires full sunlight for optimal growth. It should receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day for optimum flowering and growth. When given adequate sunlight, bush clover will continue to grow even during the peak of summer, and can tolerate some shade in the early morning or late afternoon.

pruning

Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade') should be pruned in late winter or early spring by removing up to 1 third of the oldest, tallest, and weakest stems. Remaining stems should be cut at least 1 third of their height, and new shoots should be removed in late spring. Pruning bush clover in this way will help to encourage a fuller, bushier growth, as well as aiding its ability to produce flower spikes. If desired, additional pruning can be done in mid- to late summer to keep plants from becoming too leggy and overgrown.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade' typically starts flowering in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Pink Cascade' typically starts flowering in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map