shrubby lespedeza

Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.

Appearance: Lespedeza bicolor is an upright semi-woody forb, 3-10 ft. (0.9-3 m) in height with many slender stems and arching branches.
Foliage: Leaves are elliptical, alternate, abundant and three-parted. Leaflets are oval with the lower surface lighter than the upper surface.
Flowers: Flowering occurs in the summer, when purple, pea-like flowers develop in clusters. Flowers are less than 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long.
Fruit: The fruit are flat, indehiscent pods and contain one seed that measure up to 0.31 in. (8 mm) long.
Ecological Threat: Lespedeza bicolor is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas, forming dense thickets, which displace native vegetation. Native to Asia and introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, it has been widely planted for wildlife habitat, especially for northern bobwhite quail.

Infestation lespedeza
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) in July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) back and front of leaves in July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Foliage July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) January
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s) in flower in July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage