Landscape Alternatives

Similar to Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.

These native plants are suitable substitutes for Lespedeza bicolor in the landscape.

Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.) has three-leaflet foliage and spires of large pealike flowers in blue (B. australis), white (B. alba), and yellow (B. sphaerocarpa) in May. These herbaceous perennials have a shrublike appearance. There are cultivars.

Carolina Bushpea (Thermopsis villosa) is a tall herbaceous perennial, shrublike in appearance, with long spires of bright yellow, pealike flowers in May and three-leaflet foliage.

Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) is a herbaceous perennial with pale blue, starry flowers in spring and lovely yellow fall foliage. The plant has a shrublike appearance.

All of these plants are attractive to bees and butterflies.