Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Succulent
Origin
China, Japan
Southern Africa
Types
Lespedeza davurica, Lespedeza davidii, Lespedeza caraganae
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
4030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Fields, meadows, Terrestrial
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-810-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
243.84 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
243.84 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Rose, Violet
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Sea Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Compound
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Apply 12-12-12 amounts
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Rash, Skin rash
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover, Mixed Border
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
LESPEDEZA thunbergii
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Thunberg's bushclover, Thunberg's lespedeza, and shrub lespedeza
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Bush Clover Shrub
Elephant Bush
In German
Bush Clover Strauch
Elephant Bush
In French
Bush Clover Arbuste
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Bush Clover arbusto
elefante Bush
In Greek
Μπους Τριφύλλι θάμνων
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Trevo de arbusto Arbusto
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Bush Clover Krzew
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Trifolium Frutex Bush
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Caryophyllales
Family
Fabaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Lespedeza
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Desmodieae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
401
1
27800
👆🏻