Wisteria sinensis /wɪsˈtɛriə siˈnɛn.sis/
Common name: Chinese wisteria
Wisteria sinensis is a vigorous deciduous woody climber in the pea family (Fabaceae), native to China. It twines counterclockwise around supports and can reach 20–30 m, bearing pinnate leaves and dense, fragrant hanging clusters (racemes) of violet-blue to purple flowers in spring. It is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental climbers in temperate gardens, prized for its spectacular flower display.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun for best flowering
Water
Regular water; keep moist while establishing
Soil
Fertile, moist, well-drained; slightly acidic
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Mature height
About 600–900 cm (20–30 ft) or more with support
Pet safe
No — seeds and pods are toxic if eaten
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate by layering a long flexible shoot into moist soil in spring or autumn, severing it from the parent once rooted after about a year. Softwood cuttings taken in early summer also root with hormone and humidity; avoid seed, which is slow and unreliable to flower.
Fun facts
- Its stems twine counterclockwise, unlike Japanese wisteria, which twines clockwise.
- Its flowers typically open all at once along the raceme, before the leaves emerge.
- Seed-grown plants may take 10–20 years to flower; grafted plants bloom much sooner.
- It can live for well over 100 years and is considered invasive in parts of the eastern United States.