Slender Bush Clover

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Slender Bush Clover (Slender Lespedeza)
Lespedeza virginica [C-value 4]
Bean family (Fabaceae)
Blooms mid-August - September

The native Slender Bush Clover is rare in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and slightly moist to dry rich soil. Habitats include drier areas of black soil prairies, hill prairies, dry woods and savannas. This perennial is up to 3' tall and sparsely branched with stems having fine white hairs. The alternate compound leaves are trifoliate and have slender primary petioles about ¼–¾" long. The leaflets are up to 1½" long and ½" across. The white, purple or pink flowers occur in short axillary clusters. The flowers are about ¼" across and have a typical pea-like structure with a broad upper petal and two smaller side petals that parallel a jutting lower lip.

Slender Bush Clover at Richard Young Forest Preserve August 2, 2012

Slender Bush Clover blooms

Slender Bush Clover at Richard Young Forest Preserve August 2, 2012

Slender Bush Clover foliage

Slender Bush Clover fall seedpods

Click here for more information.

Back to index page

Back to K.C.F.P. home page