sericea lespedeza: Lespedeza cuneata (Fabales: Fabaceae)

sericea lespedeza
Fabales > Fabaceae > Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don
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.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plant Manual - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council

Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South - University of Georgia

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Seedling(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Leaf backs (left) and leaf fronts (right) in July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
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 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org 768x512	Feature(s); February James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); dormant plant in February James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; In a woodland setting Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alabama - IPC List
Colorado - Noxious Weed Law
Georgia - EPPC list
Kansas - Noxious Weed Law
Kentucky - EPPC List
South Carolina - EPPC List
Tennessee - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.