3 named cultivars

shrub

Thunberg's Bush Clover

$48.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Lespedeza thunbergii, Thunberg's bush clover, is a deciduous shrub from the eastern Himalaya through southern China and temperate East Asia. It throws up arching, almost fountain-like stems 3 to 6 ft high and wide each year, clothed in blue-green trifoliate leaves. Rose-purple pea flowers crowd 6 in racemes in late summer and autumn.

It behaves more like a herbaceous perennial than a shrub, dying back hard in cold winters and regrowing from the base each spring. Flowering comes in August and September when little else of its size is in bloom, and the weight of flower bends the stems into a fountain. Nitrogen-fixing roots suit poor, dry ground.

Uses & Benefits:

Long arching sprays of rose-purple pea flowers in late summer and autumn, over fine blue-green trifoliate foliage.

Undemanding on poor, dry soil, fixes its own nitrogen, and rebuilds its full size from a hard spring cut every year.

Butterflies and hummingbirds work the flowers at a point in the season when nectar is becoming scarce.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

54 inches

Width

54 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Low once established

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Over 15 years with annual cutting back

Native To

Eastern Himalaya, southern China and temperate East Asia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Garden Goods Direct

In Stock$48.95

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun or light shade in ordinary well-drained soil.
Allow 5 to 6 ft of space for the arching stems to fall into.
Water through the first season, then only in real drought.
Skip the fertiliser; it fixes its own nitrogen.
Cut all stems to 6 in above the ground in early spring.
Remove self-sown seedlings before they establish.

Pro Tip

Cut the whole plant to a few inches every spring: flowers come only on new wood, and old stems give a sparse, sprawling display.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Site it where the stems can arch out freely 🌿
Cut it hard to the base every spring ✂️
Let it carry the late-summer border after other shrubs finish 🌸
Leave the soil lean; it fixes its own nitrogen 🌱

Don't

Do not feed it; rich soil gives floppy growth and fewer flowers ❌
Do not treat winter dieback as a problem; it is normal ❌
Do not let seedlings spread into rough ground unchecked ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cut Back Hard
Enjoy Peak Flower

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Late-season flowering shrub for the back of a sunny borderSlope and bank planting where its roots bind poor soilNaturalised and prairie-style planting with tall grasses

Companion Plants

Switchgrass Russian sage Autumn stonecrop Japanese anemone Bluebeard

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Thunberg's Bush Clover questions

What zones can Thunberg's Bush Clover grow in?

Thunberg's Bush Clover is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Thunberg's Bush Clover deer resistant?

Yes — Thunberg's Bush Clover is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Thunberg's Bush Clover bloom?

Thunberg's Bush Clover typically blooms in late summer into fall through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Thunberg's Bush Clover need full sun?

Thunberg's Bush Clover does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Thunberg's Bush Clover drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Thunberg's Bush Clover handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.