Presentation on the invasive Sericea Lespedeza.

1. Sericea Lespedeza
(Lespedeza cuneata L.)

2. Sericea Lespedeza
• Perennial legume native to eastern
Asia
• Introduced into the U. S. in the late
1890’s as a potential forage species
• Used through the 1930’s – 1960’s
for erosion control and wildlife
cover/food
• Declared a noxious weed in Kansas,
spreading and becoming more
problematic in many other states

3. Sericea Lespedeza
Description
• Grows to height of 2-4 feet
• Stems are hairy
– Parallel lines of dense
white hairs
• Trifoliate leaf
– Green on top – light grey-
green on bottom
• Purple pea-like flowers in
July – Oct.
• Seed is yellow to red-
orange in color

4. Sericea Lespedeza
Distribution

5. Sericea Lespedeza
Habits
• Nitrogen fixer
• Drought and flood tolerant
• High tannin levels make it
unpalatable to cattle
• Planted in the Southeast still as forage
and wildlife legume
• Prefers full sun, but can tolerate
shaded conditions
• Allelopathic: Sericea lespedeza
residues reduced the
germination, emergence, and
biomass of rye and tall fescue
(Kalburtji and Mosjidis 1993)

6. Sericea Lespedeza
Seed
• Prolific seed producer
– Can produce 600 -1,000
seed per plant
– 600 – 1,000 lbs
seed/acre
• Seed can remain viable
for years
– Some studies suggest up
to 20 years in the soil
• Flowers July – Oct.
• Seed dispersed
throughout the fall

7. Sericea Lespedeza
Seed
• 90% of the seed produced
dies from competition in
infested stands
– Adult plants shade and
suppress seedlings
• Seed can build up to a
substantial level in the seed
bank
• Readily germinates when
competition is removed
– Intensive management can
reduce seed bank

8. Sericea Lespedeza
Control - Chemical
• Chemical control is the most effective
– Triclopyr (Remedy, Garlon 4, Redeem)
– Fluroxypr (Pasturegard)
– Metsulfron (Escort, Ally, Cimarron)
• Triclopyr and Fluroxypr seem to be most
effective before flowering (May –July)
• Metsulfron more effective after flowering
(Aug. – Sept.)
– Slow kill (several weeks to asses effectiveness)
Altom et al. 1992; Koger et al. 2002; Ohlenbusch et
al. 2001
• Chemical control can be effective
(95% kill on exisiting plants)
• Must treat areas for multiple years
– At least 3 years, most like more for
eradication

9. Sericea Lespedeza
Control -Chemical
• 2,4-D does not work
– “Burns” plant, but will not kill it
• Dicamba and Tordon are not
effective
• Chemical treatments will kill
non-targeted forbs
– Spot treatments reduce collateral
damage to other forbs
• Early detection and control are
essential
• Multiple broadcast treatments
are most effective IF there is no
concern about non-targeted forb
species

10. Sericea Lespedeza
Control –Burning
• Burning is not effective at eradicating
– Spring burns will stimulate germination and
growth
• Can use in conjunction with herbicide treatment to
control
– Summer burns may be used to control seed
development and control spread

11. Sericea Lespedeza
Control – Other
• Goats will forage on serciea
lespedeza
– They will also forage on all
other broadleaves
• Mowing can be used to
control seed production in
the fall, but will not impact
existing plants

12. Questions?