In some regions, such as the southeastern United States, it grows in the wild as an introduced and invasive species.

A number of strains and cultivars were developed to improve the plant's drought tolerance and seed production.

By the 1990s the plant had escaped cultivation and taken hold in many regions of the eastern United States, especially those in the Southeast.

[4] It has been considered threatening in areas where it has disturbed or prevented the growth of native plants, including grasses and trees.

japonica contains lespedamine which is structurally related to DMT[7][8] and dihydrolespedezol derivatives, as well as the dimeric flavonoid, lespebicolin B[9]