Lespedeza bicolor is an upright semi-woody forb, 3-10 ft. (0.9-3 m) in height with many slender stems and arching branches.
Foliage
Leaves are elliptical, alternate, abundant and three-parted. Leaflets are oval with the lower surface lighter than the upper surface.
Flowers
Flowering occurs in the summer, when purple, pea-like flowers develop in clusters. Flowers are less than 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long.
Fruit
The fruit are flat, indehiscent pods and contain one seed that measure up to 0.31 in. (8 mm) long.
Ecological Threat
Lespedeza bicolor is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas, forming dense thickets, which displace native vegetation. Native to Asia and introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, it has been widely planted for wildlife habitat, especially for northern bobwhite quail.