violet bush clover
Lespedeza frutescens
This plant hosts specialized root bacteria that capture atmospheric nitrogen, naturally fertilizing the poor, dry soils it prefers to grow in.
- Scientific name
- Lespedeza frutescens
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae › Lespedeza
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Dry upland forests, open oak woodlands, rocky ridges, and sandy barrens.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, utilizing root-nodule nitrogen fixation).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Midwestern United States, Southeastern Canada
- Size
- 1.5 to 3 feet (45 to 90 cm) tall.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (5-10 years, regenerating annually from a woody crown).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, fire suppression leading to canopy closure, and displacement by invasive woody shrubs.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe and touch this plant. It is non-toxic to humans, but avoid picking wild specimens to preserve native seed banks. No medical action is needed upon contact.
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Photo: Tom Pollard, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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