Lespedeza: The Mysterious Britton’s Bush Clover
If you’ve stumbled across the name Lespedeza ×brittonii while researching native plants, you’ve discovered one of botany’s more elusive characters. This perennial forb, commonly known simply as lespedeza, represents a fascinating piece of our native plant puzzle – though one with surprisingly few pieces available to put together!
What Exactly Is Lespedeza ×brittonii?
Lespedeza ×brittonii is a native plant species found throughout much of the eastern and central United States. The × in its scientific name is a telltale sign that this is a hybrid – essentially nature’s own plant breeding experiment. As a perennial forb, it’s an herbaceous plant that lacks significant woody tissue but returns year after year, with its growing points tucked safely at or below ground level during winter.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native lespedeza has quite an impressive range, naturally occurring across seventeen states from Massachusetts down to Texas and westward to Illinois and Oklahoma. You might find it growing wild in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
The Challenge for Home Gardeners
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit frustrating for curious gardeners. Despite being a native species with such a wide distribution, detailed information about Lespedeza ×brittonii’s specific growing requirements, appearance, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce. This hybrid seems to fly under the radar in both scientific literature and horticultural circles.
What we do know is limited:
- It’s a perennial that comes back each year
- As a forb, it has a non-woody, herbaceous growth habit
- It has historical botanical synonyms including Lespedeza procumbens Michx. var. elliptica S.F. Blake
- Its native status makes it theoretically valuable for supporting local ecosystems
What’s a Plant-Loving Gardener to Do?
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing native lespedeza in your garden, you might want to consider exploring other, better-documented members of the Lespedeza family. Many of these related species offer:
- Attractive small purple or pink flowers that bloom in late summer
- Important food sources for native wildlife
- Ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, improving garden health
- Drought tolerance once established
- Low maintenance requirements
The Bottom Line
While Lespedeza ×brittonii holds the appeal of being a native hybrid with a wide natural range, the lack of readily available information about its specific characteristics, growing conditions, and garden performance makes it a challenging choice for most gardeners. Without knowing crucial details like its mature size, preferred soil conditions, hardiness zones, or even what it looks like in bloom, it’s difficult to recommend with confidence.
If you’re passionate about growing native lespedeza species, consider researching other well-documented options in the genus that can provide the ecological benefits you’re seeking along with reliable growing information. Your local native plant society or extension office might be able to suggest the best lespedeza species for your specific region and garden conditions.
Sometimes the most intriguing plants are also the most mysterious – and Lespedeza ×brittonii certainly fits that description!
