Kummerowia striata
Japanese clover
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
Overview
Kummerowia striata is a low, much-branched annual legume, formerly placed in Lespedeza spp., that grows 4-15 inches (10-38 cm) tall and spreads to form a dense, prostrate to ascending mat. The leaves are divided into three small oblong leaflets 0.3-0.7 inch (8-18 mm) long, each marked with parallel veins and bristly margins. From mid summer into fall it bears small pea-like flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long, pink to rose-purple, tucked singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils. Native to eastern Asia, it was introduced to the southeastern United States and has naturalized widely there in fields, pastures, roadsides, lawns, and thin or eroded soil. K. striata fixes nitrogen, tolerates poor, acidic, compacted ground, and withstands mowing and grazing, which has led to its use for forage, hay, and erosion control. As a warm-season annual it dies at frost and renews from self-sown seed. It can crowd into lawns and turf and is treated as a weed in some settings.
Native Range
Native to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. It was introduced to the southeastern United States in the 19th century and has naturalized across the Southeast in fields, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and disturbed or eroded soils.Suggested Uses
Used for forage, hay, erosion control, and as a nitrogen-fixing cover on poor soils in the southeastern United States, sown at low spacing to form a continuous stand. It also appears as a volunteer in lawns, where it is tolerated as a low groundcover or managed as a weed. The flowers and seeds supply food for bees, quail, and other small wildlife.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'3"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from mid summer into fall, mainly July through October. The small pink-purple pea-flowers open a few at a time in the leaf axils and are easy to overlook. Both open flowers and self-pollinating closed flowers are produced, and seed sets quickly.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to rose-purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow K. striata in full sun to light shade in almost any soil, including poor, dry, acidic, and compacted ground. As a warm-season annual it germinates in spring, grows through summer, flowers, sets seed, and dies at frost. It fixes its own nitrogen and needs no fertilizer, and it tolerates drought and low fertility once established. It withstands mowing and grazing, which suits it to pasture and roadside use. It self-sows heavily and can spread into lawns and turf, where it is managed as a weed. It has few pest or disease problems.Pruning
Pruning does not apply to this low annual. It tolerates mowing, which is used to manage it in turf, and cutting before seed set reduces its spread into unwanted areas.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Spring after last frost
Days to Maturity
90–120 days
Plant Spacing
6 inches