Lespedeza bicolor Yakushima

Lespedeza bicolor 'Yakushima' is a cultivar of bush clover distinguished by its modest size, dense ball-like habit, and beautiful flowering of vibrant and intense pink. This shrub has flexible stems that carry deciduous leaves cut into bluish-green leaflets, making it elegant even outside of the flowering period. Like many plants in the Fabaceae family, formerly legumes, the bush clover is not very demanding in terms of soil. In later summer this pretty selection will animate a flowerbed or border, or a large pot on the terrace. 

Lespedeza 'Yakushima' is a dwarf form of bicolour bush clover. The species is mainly native to China and Japan. It is a shrub with a woody base and annual stems in climates that regularly experience frosts. The stems in this bicolor species are more woody and stronger than those of its close relative, Lespedeza thunbergii. Its leaflets are more rounded and its flowers are larger and even more decorative. In cultivation it has few requirements, except for heat and a sunny site. Relatively economical with water, it doesn't however like arid situations, nor excessive alkalinity or overly heavy or clayey soils. Not very sensitive to cold when adult, it does require good protection around the stump when young. The root system of this plant is superficial and equipped with nodes that fix atmospheric nitrogen, indicating good adaptation to degraded soils.

The bush clover 'Yakushima' forms a beautiful clump of upright and branching stems that emerge from the stump in spring. It will reach about 80 cm (32 in) in all directions in a few years. The stems are more or less destroyed by frost in winter, without harming the plant. The foliage, deciduous, resembles that of clover: it is composed of leaves cut into 3 rounded leaflets, of a glaucous green, turning yellow before falling. Flowering takes place between July and September, lasting approximately 4 weeks. It takes the form of thin clusters of papilionaceous flowers, in shades of purple-pink to bright pink. Honey- and nectar-producing, it is much visited by bees, bumblebees and butterflies.  

The abundant flowering of Lespedeza is welcome at the end of the summer, alongside the flowers of the autumn asters and shrub sages. its habit is unusual and its leaves contrast with more classic foliage. The bush clover functions as a focal point in the garden - an architectural and beautifully coloured plant. Easy to grow, undemanding, this Yakushima variety will be most effective in a border. Also superb to accompany Perovskias with their beautiful soft blue flowers, or those of Caryoperis, chrysanthemums, or the silvery foliage of the Powis Castle wormwood. Mix its colours with other shades of blue, mauve and pink, or in contrast with e.g. yellow flowers.