Sericea Lespedeza is a cover crop — grown to build and protect the soil rather than for a harvest of its own. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its late summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
4-9
pH Range
4.5-7.1
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
120
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See Sericea Lespedeza
What Sericea Lespedeza is
Sericea Lespedeza grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms in late summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Sericea Lespedeza
Sericea Lespedeza grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. Sericea Lespedeza does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7.1, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7.1
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
42.8°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
120 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
1500+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
4 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
120+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant sericea lespedeza in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Sericea Lespedeza prefers pH 4.5 to 7.1 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Turn it in before it seeds
Cut sericea lespedeza down or turn it into the soil before it sets seed, while the growth is still green — that's when it returns the most to the ground.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — sericea lespedeza isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sericea Lespedeza offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Sericea Lespedeza thrives
Sericea Lespedeza is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–9·Where Sericea Lespedeza growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sericea Lespedeza can grow in these states:
See if Sericea Lespedeza will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sericea lespedeza actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Sericea Lespedeza in my zone?
Sericea Lespedeza grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Sericea Lespedeza?
Most growers plant sericea lespedeza after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Sericea Lespedeza need?
Sericea Lespedeza needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Sericea Lespedeza need?
Sericea Lespedeza prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7.1, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sericea Lespedeza attract pollinators?
Yes — sericea lespedeza's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Sericea Lespedeza safe for pets?
Sericea Lespedeza is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)