Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii f. angustifolia
Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii f. angustifolia("Bitchuyamahagi")
Japanese name: ビッチュウヤマハギ（備中山萩） Scientific name:Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii f. angustifolia
[Overview]
A subshrub reaching 1.5 m tall, found in sunny places in the mountains.
The base of the stem becomes woody, and the branches ascend obliquely with the tips drooping.
The leaves are alternate and compound with 3 leaflets; the terminal leaflet is oblong to elliptic, 2–6 cm long, with a rounded or slightly pointed tip.
The upper surface of the leaves has short hairs.
The leaf margins are entire.
The stipules are small and lanceolate.
The flowers are reddish purple pea-shaped flowers, borne in compound racemes arising at the leaf axils.
The pods do not split open even when ripe.
[Cultivation]
It likes sun and is easy to grow, thriving even in poor or dry soil as long as the soil is not excessively wet.
It is cold-hardy, but most of the aboveground part dies back in winter, so cut it back to ground level and let new branches grow the following year.
Transplanting is easy as long as it is done while the plant is leafless.
