Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Performs well in infertile, sandy soils in full sun. Good drainage is essential. Avoid over fertilization. Blooms on new growth, so prune as needed in late winter to early spring. Although the roots are winter hardy to USDA Zone 4, the top growth may die to the ground in hard winters. Some gardeners simply prune plants to the ground in late winter each year.
Lespedeza thunbergii is a deciduous shrub with an arching, fountain-like habit. When cut to the ground in late winter to early spring, it responds by producing rapid growth to 6’ tall and to 12’ wide during the following growing season. It features trifoliate, bluish-green leaves and drooping racemes (to 6” long) of rosy-purple, pea-like flowers which are grouped into loose, pendulous flower panicles (to 2’ long). Blooms appear in late summer to early fall. ‘White Fountain’, as the name suggests, is a fountain-like plant that produces white pea-like flowers in late summer on weeping branches clad with trifoliate deep green leaves.
No serious insect or disease problems.
Border fronts. Mix with perennials.
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Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110(314) 577-5100 hours and admission
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Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63017(636) 530-0076 hours and admission
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Hwy. 100 & I-44 Gray Summit, MO 63039(636) 451-3512 hours and admission