VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Lespedeza cuneata | Sericea Lespedeza 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Sericea lespedeza has been grown in the South for hay with good results.
Cattle will graze sericea through the growing season, particularly when
the plant is young and tender [11].

Sericea lespedeza is often planted as a food source for the northern
bobwhite and other upland birds.  Rabbits eat the bark in the winter.
The foliage is eaten by deer, rabbits, and wild turkey.  The seeds are
eaten by birds and rodents [4,20].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Sericea lespedeza provides good cover for songbirds, quail, and small
mammals [21]. 


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Sericea lespedeza ia a nitrogen-fixing legume planted for wildlife
habitat improvement; erosion control; and stabilization of streambanks,
steep slopes, and highway embankments.  The leaves that drop during the
growing season and after frost make an excellent mulch.  The leaf mulch,
the dense stands of plants, and the deep, branching root system protect
the soil against running water. The leaf mold and network of plant roots
improve soil structure by making the topsoil more porous [10,12].

Propagation:  Seeds should be scarified; if not scarified, they should
be planted a month earlier than usual.  Sericea lespedeza should be
planted later than the annual lespedezas, but preferably before May 15.
It should be broadcast seeded at a rate of 15 to 20 pounds (13-17 kg/ha)
per acre on a prepared seedbed.  If the site is severely eroded, a light
cover of pine boughs, straw, or other mulch is recommended for temporary
protection [11,24].  The main advantage of sericea lespedeza is that it
provides a long-term or permanent cover that requires little or no
mainitenance [23].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Sericea lespedeza is a good honey plant [21].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Sericea lespedeza can interfere with initial tree growth and survival
and reduce the number of native plant species [18].

Insects:  Very few insects feed on sericea lespedeza.  Grass armyworms
occasionally defoliate the plants.  If they arrive in late summer or
early fall, they can destroy the seed crop [11].

Diseases:  Sericea lespedeza is generally free of diseases severe enough
to retard growth or thin out the stands.  It is susceptible to cotton
root rot and should not be planted on land where this disease is
present.  Cotton root rot is confined largely to the Blacklands of Texas
[11].

Related categories for Species: Lespedeza cuneata | Sericea Lespedeza