Lespedeza repens

Lespideza are sometimes confused with Desmodium sp. but can be distinguished by their seed pods which are short, oval, usually one-seeded, and are intact at maturity while the pods of Desmodium are elongated, and break into one-seeded segments at maturity.

Propagation is best by seed which require cold/moist stratification at 33-40 degrees F (1-5 C) for 10 days and scarification (Shirley 1994, Steffen 1997).

The following Information is for the genus Lespedeza with note that L. striatat and L. stipulacea are especially important: The animals that eat the seeds: Mourning dove, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey. Animals that eat the plant: White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951).

Creeping lespedeza grows on roadsides and in open sandy woodlands and prairies of north and central Louisiana and east and north-central Texas. It is found throughout most of eastern and central United States. Lespedeza repens blooms in April while the other species of Lespedeza (L. capitata and L. virginica) do not bloom until July.

Sandy or gravelly soils, open woodlands, fields, roadsides, common in acid soils, rocky hillsides.