Lespedeza juncea var. sericea, also known as Chinese bush clover, Chinese Lespedeza, Sericea, Sericea Lespedeza, and Silky Bush Clover, is a perennial herb native to eastern and central Asia. It was first introduced to the United States in 1896 and was initially grown for erosion control and mine reclamation before it was widely utilized as a pasture species in the 1940s. With woody taproots exceeding one meter in length, this plant can grow up to two meters tall and features densely covered stems with leaves divided into leaflets up to 2.5 centimeters in length. Flowers occur singly or in clusters of up to three in the leaf axils, and the fruit is a legume pod containing one seed. While Sericea lespedeza was initially useful to control erosion and forage for livestock, it has since become an invasive species and is listed as such. Before purchasing seed, be sure to check with local regulations for any prohibitions or restrictions in place.
