Japanese Wisteria Wisteria floribunda

This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.

Although it may be slow to establish, Japanese Wisteria is aggressive and invasive in North Carolina, due to its rampant growth and rooting surface runners. It is a woody deciduous vine that twines in a clockwise direction and requires sturdy support and regular pruning. The stems can twine along a support up to 10-25 ft. or more or can be trained as a shrub or small tree. Bright green compound pinnate leaves have 15-19 leaflets, and 12-18 inch long drooping clusters (racemes) of pink to purple, pea-shaped, very fragrant flowers.  These flowers bloom from the base of clusters to the tip as the leaves emerge in spring. After flowering, pendant velvety seed pods about 6 inches long ripen in fall, sometimes persisting into winter. 

Japanese Wisteria can withstand both wet and dry soils. It can create very dense thickets by twining and covering over shrubs and trees.  The stems root wherever the nodes touch the ground.  Wildlife does not utilize this plant because the seed size is very large.  The seeds are dispersed by water.  It is shade intolerant.  

The flowers, leaves, and seeds can be eaten.  However, caution should be taken as the raw seeds can be toxic.  Baking the seeds will give you a chestnut flavor.  Young leaves can be used to make a tea substitute.  The flowers can also be eaten when cooked.

Bark from Wisteria floribunda can be used to make ropes and sandals.  Branches are used for creating bridge cables. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Due to its aggressive growth, this plant is very high maintenance once established, native alternatives should be considered.  It can be a difficult plant to get to bloom.  Some strategies that can be attempted are root pruning, using phosphorous fertilizer and cutting back the shoots to just 3 to 4 buds. The seeds are poisonous.