1971 Sericea is the only perennial lespedeza of importance agriculturally in the United States. Seed from Japan was first tested in North Carolina in 1896. From this and later introductions seed of vigorous, productive lines was widely distributed. The plants are long-lived, leafy, erect, with rather coarse stems reaching 2 to 4 feet high. Leaflets are long, narrow and blunt at the terminals.
Annual growth dies in winter, new growth rising from crown buds.
Range of adaptation is roughly from the Atlantic Coast west to Texas and Kansas and north to the Ohio River. Where adapted the crop is useful for pasturage, hay and soil improvement.