Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover Roundhead Lespedeza
(less-pe-DEEZ-uh  cap-i-TAY-tah)

Easyliving Native Perennial Wildflowers
Native Wild Flower Seed & Potted Plants for Home Landscaping & Prairie Restoration

        For other flowers visit the wildflower seed list , to order copy the orderform or 
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Lespedeza capitata Roundhead Bushclover potted plants (SOLD OUT), $4 each plus UPS shipping.  Please contact us by email with your address for shipping cost on potted plants

Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover, the creamy white flowers of Round-Headed Bush Clover form dense rounded heads 1.5 inches in diameter on 2 to 4 feet tall plants with silvery foliage.  The tan colored seed heads are attractive in winter and are used in both dry and fresh flower arrangements.  Native Roundhead bushclover seeds are eaten by songbirds, Bobwhite quail and other game.  Lespedeza capitata plants were used medicinally by native Americans.  Roundhead bushcolver is accented well when planted in the prairie meadow with Aster, Coreopsis, Echinacea (Coneflower), and Liatris (Blazing Stars). 

The dried seed heads of Lespedeza capitata Roundhead Bushclover are attractive additions to dried flower arrangements.

Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover seeds will germinate quicker if they are scarified before planting.  Rub the seeds between two sheets of coarse sandpaper, this will scratch or rough th hard shell and let water penetrate.

Native Roundhead Lespedeza plants occur naturally in prairies, savannas, woodlands, glades and river bottoms from Maine and Quebec to Minnesota and Nebraska, south to North Carolina and Missouri.   Fabaceae (Bean Family)  

The map below shows areas where native Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover capitata plants grow wild but it can be planted and will grow over a much wider area than shown.  USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9.

Use the chart below for shipping charges on Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover flower seeds, to order copy the order form or email questions, comments & orders to john@easywildflowers.com 

Please contact us by email with your address for shipping charges & availability on potted plants

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The minimum seed order amount is $10, this can be a combination of different seeds.

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Easyliving Wildflowers
PO Box  522
Willow Springs,  Mo.  65793
phone-fax 417-469-2611 
john@easywildflowers.com 

Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bushclover Plant distribution map complements of USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1
  (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

roundheaded bush clover, bushclover

Uses

Ethnobotanic: The Omaha and Ponca used the stems for a moxa to treat cases of neuralgia and rheumatism.  The Comanche boiled the leaves for a beverage tea.  The Meskwaki used the root as an antidote for poison.  The Iroquois used the whole plant of Lespedeza (unidentified to species level) in combination with Euonymus obovata for stricture caused by something wrong with the blood.

Wildlife: Roundhead lespedeza seeds are an important food source for the bobwhite quail.

Description

General: Bean Family (Fabaceae).  This herbaceous, native, perennial has erect stems that are 6-15 dm, and simple and branched above.  The petioles are 2-5 mm, shorter than the stalk of the terminal leaflet.  The plant has numerous small trifoliolate leaves.  The leaflets are 4.5 x 1.8 cm, variable in shape and pubescence.  The flowers are ochroleucous and are arranged in spikes or heads.  The calyx lobes are all separate and the wings exceed the keel.  Each flower is subtended at the base by small bractlets.  The fruits are indehiscent, and 1-seeded. 

Distribution: This plant is found in dry, open woods, sand dunes, and prairies.  It ranges from Maine and southern Quebec to Minnesota and South Dakota, south to Georgia, west Florida, and Texas.

Establishment

Propagation by seeds: Clean the seed and scarify each seed coat with sandpaper.  If you are storing the seeds before planting, put them in cold storage.  Plant the seeds in a bedding mix with a light layer of vermiculite on top.  Sow the seeds in flats and water them, keeping them moist.  Do not over water them.   The seeds will germinate in approximately two weeks. After two more weeks, the seedlings will be ready to transplant into plugs.  These plants can be transplanted once again in several weeks to larger pots.  In the middle of May, after the danger of frost has past, the plugs can be directly transplanted into a well-drained soil in full sunlight and watered.  Make sure the plants are moist for several weeks until established.