Hairy Bush-clover
Lespedeza hirta
Last reviewed: June 2026
Lespedeza hirta is a native legume blooming pink to purple from July through September across the eastern United States. This drought-tolerant wildflower attracts bees and butterflies while fixing nitrogen in the soil.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Hairy Bush-clover as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, CT, FL and 23 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Hairy bush-clover is a native perennial that forms compact, upright clumps with small oval leaves and clusters of tiny pink to purple pea-like flowers. It blooms from July through September, providing late-season color when many other plants are fading. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in poor soils and full sun conditions.
Growing Hairy Bush-clover
Grow Hairy Bush-clover in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Hairy Bush-clover takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Has a wild, weedy appearance that resembles common clover
- Growth habit is loose and informal rather than neat
- May be mistaken for an unwanted weed by neighbors
Wildlife value
Host plant for gray hairstreak.
The flowers attract native bees and butterflies during the important late summer blooming period. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals in fall and winter.
Common questions
- When does Hairy Bush-clover bloom?
- Lespedeza hirta blooms from July through September, producing small pink to purple flowers in dense clusters.
- What pollinators visit Hairy Bush-clover?
- Bees and butterflies are the primary pollinators of Lespedeza hirta, attracted to its late summer blooms when few other native plants are flowering.
- Where is Lespedeza hirta native?
- Hairy Bush-clover is native to much of the eastern United States, from Maine south to Florida and west to Texas, Oklahoma, and the Great Lakes region.
- What growing conditions does Hairy Bush-clover prefer?
- Lespedeza hirta thrives in full sun to partial sun with low to moderate water needs, making it well-suited for dry prairies, open woods, and disturbed sites.
- Is Hairy Bush-clover toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Hairy Bush-clover as toxic to livestock.
- Is Hairy Bush-clover HOA-friendly?
- Hairy Bush-clover takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Hairy Bush-clover? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz