Chinese Wisteria Wisteria sinensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- wis-TEER-ee-uh sy-NEN-sis
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
This vine is considered invasive in the southeast. A strong vine that needs space and sturdy supports, with full sun for best flowering. In spring, 6-12 inch racemes of mildly fragrant blue-violet pea-shaped flowers bloom almost simultaneously, producing a very showy display. After bloom, drooping clusters of velvety seed pods persist into fall.
Wisteria occurs on wet or dry sites and forms very dense thickets. This invasive vine colonizes by twining and covering trees and shrubs and by runners sprouting at nodes. Regular pruning is required for shaping and to control rampant growth and invasive tendency. Stems become twisted and trunk-like and massive over time. The best growth results occur in slightly acidic soils.
It can be slow to become established. Flowers may be not be produced until the 2nd or 3rd year after planting, sometimes much longer. Pruning the roots in the fall may lead to more abundant flowers the next spring.
This vine differs from its counterpart Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) by counter-clockwise twining, fewer leaflets per leaf, and shorter flower racemes that are somewhat less fragrant.
Blooms in late-spring before or just as the leaves appear; is a rampant, invasive weedy vine naturalizing in the south; requires heavy pruning and vigilance to keep tidy; may be injured by a late frost; can be pruned to tree form, trellised (needs heavy support); can be hard to keep flowering.
Quick ID
- Twining, woody vine with pinnately compound leaves
- Pea-type flowers in pendulous chains in spring
- Persistent, brownish, bean-like pods, 4-6 inches
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This very invasive plant is susceptible to foliage chewing insects and fungal diseases.
Once planted, this plant does not take well to transplanting. Choose your site wisely.
In order to control this plant, pruning should be completed on a regular basis.
Late spring frost can cause damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Satellite Dish Fountain
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Sapphire'
- 'Prolific'
Typically flowers at a earlier age than other varieties. - 'White Diamond'
- 'Blue Sapphire'
- 'Blue Sapphire', 'Prolific', 'White Diamond'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Sapphire'
- 'Prolific'
Typically flowers at a earlier age than other varieties. - 'White Diamond'
- 'Blue Sapphire'
- 'Blue Sapphire', 'Prolific', 'White Diamond'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Wisteria
- Species:
- sinensis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Distribution:
- Eastern USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Very few wildlife species use wisteria because of the large seed size, whoever does attract butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Defines Paths
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Textural
- Wind Break
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Flowers edible raw or cooked (stems removed).
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- After bloom, drooping clusters of velvety seed pods persist into fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 6-12 inch racemes of mildly fragrant blue-violet pea-shaped flowers bloom almost simultaneously, producing a very showy display. Inflorescence is a raceme, terminal or axillary, pendulous, 4-8 inches.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 7-13 leaflets; leaflets elliptic to ovate, acute, broad cuneate, entire, pubescent on midrib beneath.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stem is brown-gray, woody, twining.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
