Lespedeza thunbergii Gibraltar

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Gibraltar' is a very beautiful cultivar of bush clover characterised by particularly spreading vegetation - a habit that enhances the purplish-pink flowering that covers the plant at the end of summer, especially when installed at height. Its long flexible branches bend down to lie gracefully, forming curtains of flowers. Its light foliage, cut into thin leaflets, reminds us that it is an elegant member of the Fabaceae family. Not demanding in terms of soil type, Lespedeza will prefer it well-drained and light, not too dry and not too poor, to enhance its flowering. It excels overhanging a wall or in a large container on the terrace! 

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Gibraltar' was discovered in Willington, Delaware by Bill Frederick, on the former Gibraltar estate. The type species, Thunberg's bush clover, is mainly native to Japan but is also present in Korea and China. It is a shrub with a woody base and annual stems in climates that regularly suffer frosts. In cultivation it has few requirements except for heat and full sun. Relatively economical with water it does however dislike arid situations, as well as excessive alkalinity or overly heavy, clayey soils. Not very sensitive to cold when it mature, it does require good protection around the stump when young. The root system of this plant is superficial and equipped with atmospheric nitrogen fixing nodes, indicating good adaptation to degraded soils.

The 'Gibraltar' variety forms a large sheaf of thin stems emerging from the stump from spring. It will reach about 80-90 cm (35 in) in height, but will occupy up to 3 m (10 ft) in width within a few years. The stems are usually destroyed by frost in winter, without harming the plant. The foliage, deciduous, resembles that of clover: it is composed of leaves cut into 3 ovate leaflets, slightly bluish green, turning yellow before falling. Flowering takes place from August to September, over 3 to 4 weeks. It takes the form of long clusters of bicoloured papilionaceous flowers, whose weight makes the slender branches bend gracefully. Honey and nectar producing, it is much visited by bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Flowers are followed by the formation of small flat pods each containing only one black seed.  

The abundant flowering of Lespedeza is welcome at the end of summer, like that of autumn asters and shrubby sages. With its unusual habit and its fine and light foliage of a beautiful blue-green colour, contrasting with more classic foliage, the bush clover makes an excellent accent plant, architectural and beautifully coloured. Easy to grow and undemanding, it is above a low or retaining wall that the 'Gibraltar' variety will most grab the attention. It will also create great effect in a large rockery among carpets of silver or gold thyme, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Iberis sempervirens, or clumps of Erigeron karvinskianus. Marry its colours with blues, mauves and pinks, or to contrast with e.g. yellow flowers.