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Roundhead Lespedezabuy wildflower seedsRoundhead Lespedeza

Scientific name: Lespedeza capitata       

Short Description: Roundhead Lespedeza is a native legume with a silvery sheen green foliage.  

Description: Roundhead lespedeza is a native warm-season perennial legume adapted to all but northern tier states of the tall prairie region of the central and eastern United States.  Roundhead lespedeza is very desirable component of warm season grass plantings.  It is readily grazed by all classes of livestock and is an important food source for upland game birds.  Although found in lowland prairie sites it tends to be more common in upland sites.  The attractive silvery sheen green foliage makes it an attractive plant for the garden. Roundhead lespedeza does not spread aggressively by rhizomes and is not a prolific seed producer. 

  

Taxonomy of Roundhead Lespedeza

 Kingdom    Plantae   
 Subkingdom  Tracheobionta    
 Superdivision  Magnoliophyta
 Division    Spermatophyta
 Class         Magnoliopsida
 Subclass   Asteridae 
 Order   Asterales 
 Family   Asteraceae  
 Genus       Lespedeza
 Species  Lespedeza capitata  
 

Plant Characteristics of Roundhead Lespedeza

 Height  24 to 60 inches 
 Growth habit  stiff erect stems with limited branching at the top
 Bloom color  white with purple spot on banner petal
 Bloom period  late summer
 Sun requirement   full sun
 Leaf foilage color  green with silvery sheen large leaflets
 Seeds per pound  125,000
 Minimum soil temperature for germination  65 ºF
 Soil pH range  6.5 to 8.0
 Planting Rate  3 oz/1000 or 8 lbs/acre
 Planting Depth  ¼ to ½ inch
 Planting season  scarified seed: spring; unscarified seed: fal l
*Special considerations for spring planting:  seed germination can be improved with mechanical
scarification.  Seed needs to be inoculated with Rhizobium for nitrogen fixation to occur. Germination
of scarified seed generally occurs within 2 weeks after planting provided adequate soil moisture and
temperature conditions are met.  

Uses of Roundhead Lespedeza

Landscape:  attractive in mass plantings as well as in species mixes

Wildlife: excellent food source, insect attractant and cover for game birds

Erosion control: when combined with grasses, forbs, and legumes

Commercially Available Cultivars of Roundhead Lespedeza

'Kanoka' (released in 1998 by the USDA, NRCS, Manhattan Plant Material Center in Manhattan Kansas)