| sericea lespedeza |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: LECU USDA ARS GRIN: 21856 ITIS: 25898 NAPIS: PCQBEBA |
| Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Fabales: Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
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| Synonym(s): Chinese lespedeza | |
Sericea lespedeza is an upright semi-woody forb reaching 3 to 6 ft. (0.9-1.8 m) in height with one to many slender stems. Leaves are thin, alternate, abundant and three-parted. Leaflets have wedge-shaped bases and are 0.5-1 in. (1.3-2.5 cm) long and hairy. Flowering occurs from mid-summer to fall, when small, creamy-white flowers with purple throats develop in clusters of 2 to 4. Sericea lespedeza is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas and out competes native vegetation. Once established, sericea lespedeza is very difficult to remove due to the seed bank which may remain viable for decades. Native to Asia and introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, sericea lespedeza has been widely planted for erosion control, mine reclamation and wildlife habitat. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Seedling(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Leaf backs (left) and leaf fronts (right) in July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); in July. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); February James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); dormant plant in February James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; In a woodland setting Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1994
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Missouri Department of Conservation,
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1998
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1
- Kansas Noxious Weeds
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Significant Threat
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
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