Wisteria
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- wis-TEER-ee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Wisteria is a highly floriferous (producing numerous blooms) woody vine that blooms in mid-spring and will grow to 10 to 25 feet depending on the support it is given. Wisteria blooms are highly fragrant and come in a variety of colors ranging from pink to purple to white. These flowers are found in large racemes (long drooping clusters) of about 12 to 18 inches in length. Training into a small tree or shrub requires a significant amount of pruning.
Some Wisteria species such as the Chinese and Japanese species (Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda respectively) growing in the wild and in the landscape have the potential to compete with its host tree for sunlight, and usually winning. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is much less aggressive and requires less pruning and no risk of introducing an invasive species. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer and is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
It can be found in forests and other natural areas. This ornamental vine may be native or exotic and can become weedy in disturbed areas, and by roadsides.
Blooms appear on new growth only. The best time to plant is in the spring or fall when the plant is dormant. It can be grown from seed; however, it may take several years to mature and produce flowers. A cutting is a better choice for reproduction.
When choosing a plant, please consider the fact that Asian wisterias are more aggressive growers than the North American variety. Distinguishing traits include differences in the seed pods. Asian wisterias have fuzzy seed pods, while North American wisteria has smooth seed pods. Also, the flowers on the North American varieties bloom after the plant has leafed out, while Chinese wisterias will bloom before the foliage opens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Due to its rapid growth and spread, some wisterias can become quite heavy, putting a strain on the object or structure that it is attached to. It can spread in very small nooks and crannies, so placing near a structure such as your home is not advisable.
Some insects affecting this plant are Japanese beetles, aphids, leaf miners, scale insects and mealybugs. Dieback, crown gall, and leaf spot are some diseases known to affect wisterias.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Wisteria
- Family:
- Fabaeceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Multiple, depending on variety: China, Japan, America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinator
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Screening
- Textural
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a hairy, flattened pod with a few seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small downward facing flowers tightly packed on a raceme, generally with one large outward facing petal per flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, pinnately divided with 7-19 leaflets each with a smooth margin.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Bark forms on growth of the previous year, it is a light gray smooth bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Long, bright green stem with leaves protruding opposite one another.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses