Wanted: The Unwanted Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), or
Chinese bush clover, is an introduced perennial legume native to
eastern Asia. As early as 1930 to 1950, Chinese bush clover was
planted in Missouri and Kansas. It was recognized for its
tolerance of drought, acidity and shallow soils of low
fertility. Its ability to thrive under a variety of conditions
and its tendency to crowd out more palatable plants are among
the reasons it has become noxious in some states. Chinese bush
clover was planted in the past to control erosion, provide
forage for livestock and provide cover and food for wildlife.
The plant has spread to every county in Missouri and almost
every eastern county of Kansas. Even though it is grown in the
southern states as a forage and hay crop, here in Missouri we
are combating it at the landowner level. This aggressive legume
has a low nitrogen-fixation rate and has little effect on the
status of soil nitrogen. It has been shown to increase the
nitrogen content of associated grass, bu