[MAIPC] Lespedeza cuneata

[Karen Budd]

We tried for years to get rid of that plant in our 3-acre wildflower meadow in Bucks Co., PA. It came in the original seed mix for the meadow. It's extremely aggressive! We had to spot treat it every year just before it flowered since we didn't want to affect the wildflowers. An extremely time-consuming, hot and sticky job! There was always more coming back the next year. In places where there were no wildflowers, we simply mowed at that time every year to keep it from going to seed and to knock it back. It spread like crazy to theneighboring fields so everyone was mowing it.
Karen Budd
Tinicum Conservancy

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 14, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Margaret Chatham <margaret.chatham at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> I recall once hand-cutting it at Great Falls NP, MD, after flowers had formed but before seed was set, on the theory that simply removing all top growth at that time would kill the plant. Mary Travaglini was in charge of that operation, & I never heard how well it worked. (My personal recollection was of chiggers...)
> 
> Margaret Chatham
> 
> 
> On 9/14/16 2:22 PM, "John Ambler" <john.ambler at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> In Lancaster County (PA) Central Park a series of native wildflower meadows were planted some years ago with seed collected from the county.  In one meadow apparently Lespedeza cuneata (Chinese bushclover) was included in the seed mix when seed was collectedalong the Susquehanna River, probably at Lock 12, near Holtwood Bridge on PA372.
>  
> One meadow has a large patch (maybe 100x200 ft.?) of Lespedeza cuneata growing vigorously among other plants.  There is some spread by mowing along the edge of the meadow, and it has been found in two of the other meadows at some distance from the main infestation.
>  
> Ideally it would be controlled by cutting with brush blade in August before seeds mature followed by treatment of the cut stem.  Brushing stem with glyphosate concentrate in early June when the stems are easily found also is effective.
>  
> However, volunteers are not allowed to use power tools or herbicide.  The park wishes to mow the meadows for woody plant control in the fall, a time that works into their schedule and the ground may not be too wet.  (Others recommend cutting at the beginning of April to minimize damage to overwintering butterflies.)
>  
> Mowing will rapidly spread the Lespedeza cuneata, which will seriously degrade the meadows.  Also it will favor wider spread, e.g., downstream via the nearby Mill Creek (a small river).
>  
> Could anyone with experience with Lespedeza cuneata comment on its invasiveness?  I see from EDDMapS that there are a lot of reports of it in New Jersey, so someone must be worried about it there.
>  
> John Ambler
> Lancaster, PA
> 
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