Chinese Wisteria Wisteria sinensis

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.