Species bush clover

bush clover

Lespedeza thunbergii 'White Fountain'

Bush Clover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'White Fountain') is a deciduous shrub native to Japan and Korea. It produces abundant clusters of small, white, pea-like flowers in early to mid-summer that attract bees and butterflies. The foliage of the bush clover is grey-green with noticeable tan veins. It grows best in full sun or part shade and soils that are rich in organic matter. Once established, it is drought tolerant, and the plant is deer resistant. Pruning and deadheading spent blossoms will make this bush clover more attractive and help it to stay from becoming weed-like. With its graceful arching branches and white fountain-like blooms it is an excellent choice for adding versatility to large, sunny landscapes.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Bush Clover thoroughly and deeply once a week during spring, summer, and fall. In late fall and winter—when the plant is going dormant—water the plant every other week instead. Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

sunlight

Bushclover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'White Fountain') needs full sun to do well. Eight or more hours of sunlight per day is ideal, though it can tolerate up to 4 hours of partial shade. The best time of day to get sunlight for this plant is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the direct sunlight is strongest. In very hot climates, midday sun can be too strong, so morning and evening sun can provide a better balance.

pruning

Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii 'White Fountain') should be pruned during the late winter or early spring when the plant is still dormant. It should only be pruned lightly, by removing any dead, diseased, or broken branches as well as any overlong branches. This will help to encourage a thicker, fuller shrub. Avoid pruning too harshly as this can damage the health of the bush.

Season

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

Bush clover typically starts flowering in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Bush clover typically starts flowering in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map