Virgina bush clover is a native perennial wildflower in the Fabaceae (bean) family which is native to much of the United states. Hybridizing has resulted in a great variation in the 18 or more species. In the wild, it can be found growing in dry woods, clearings, thickets, sandy prairies, hill prairies, rocky upland forests, savannas, scrubby barrens, limestone glades bluffs, and along lakes. Typically, oak trees dominate the wooded areas where this plant is found. This plant prefers well-drained moist to dry sandy, loamy or rocky soils and sites in full sun to partial shade. Being a member of the Fabaceae family, its roots fix nitrogen so it adds fertility to poor soils, and once established it is very drought tolerant. This plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. It naturalizes easily in the landscape through self seeding but can also propagate through rooting of its prostrate stems. Flowers are visited by many pollinators, the leaves are a larval food source for butterflies and the seeds from this plant are a food source for the bobwhite quail and other songbirds. The leaves are browsed by deer and rabbits. They are capable of forming fertile seeds without insect pollination. It will naturalize by reseeding and prostrate stems rooting at the nodes. As it blooms on new wood, cut this herbaceous plant to the ground in the winter. It will come back next spring with a vengeance. Plant in a meadow, woodland, or cottage garden, or let it naturalize in an informal area of the landscape. This pollinatator plant makes an excellent addition to a butterfly or wildlife garden or planted in the middle of a wildflower border. Recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Small blue green alternate oblong or linear to some trifolate leaves 1 1/2" x 1/2" with entire margins a tiny point at the tip on long stalks
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pink pea-like flowers with a large sploched with purple-red upper petal, two side petals and a lower lip on slender stalks found in the axils of leaves bloom for around 3 weeks from July to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit detail
Bean pod displays from August to November, food source birds and small mammals.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Long stalks, upright stems with white hairs and many branches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and central U.S.A. and Mexico
Wildlife value
Nectar from the flowers is enjoyed by bees, flies, and adult butterflies. Fruits attract birds including quail and small mammals. This plant supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) larvae which has many broods from February-November. The adult butterflies feed on low-lying, open or short-tubed flowers such as white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, and asters.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds