Yakushima Bush Clover

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Yakushima bush clover has small intensely colored purple flowers that bloom late in the summer and early fall. This member of the legume family is widely grown to reclaim areas for native wildlife browsing and foraging. The shrub is also a nitrogen fixer that can sequester nitrogen from the atmosphere and store it in small nodules attached to the roots. Yakushima is considered a more well-behaved and compact cultivar to use in the home garden. 

The bluish-green leaves and deep purple flowers give bush clover a dainty appearance, but this is one tough shrub. Use it to control erosion on sloping sites or naturalize a far corner of your yard. It provides wildlife with foragable foliage and shelter during all months of the year. Its vigorous growth will quickly cover any deer or rabbit damage. Birds will be attracted to the copious amounts of seed produced late in the fall. In colder climates, Yakushima bush clover may bloom earlier in the summer so that the plant has plenty of time to form seed before it goes dormant for the winter. 

Yakushima Bush Clover Care

Bush clover thrives in poor soils. The root system adapts easily to heavy, stoney, and sandy soils. Fertilizing is not recommended and will encourage weak growth. Water newly planted shrubs at the time of planting and every 10 - 14 days to establish a deep root system. This shrub is extremely low maintenance and trouble-free, attracting virtually no pests or diseases.  

Yakushima bush clover blooms on the current year’s growth. To promote widespread blooming, pruning can be done early in the spring. This is also a good time to shape the plant and remove any damaged growth from the winter. This shrub responds well to hard pruning, which can be performed at the end of the spring, after any nesting birds or other wildlife have moved on for the season. 

Yakushima Bush Clover Spacing

The compact size of Yakushima bush clover works well in mass plantings to fill in naturalized areas of your yard. The mature height and spread average 2-3 feet. Plant multiple shrubs 24-30 inches apart to create a dense planting.