The Spruce / Loren Probish
Chinese wisteria is adeciduousperennial vine with a twining growth habit.
As the name indicates, Chinese wisteria is native to China.
The fact that it can live for more than 50 years adds to its pernicious nature.
The Spruce / Loren Probish
What’s more, wisteria is toxic to humans, and toxic to pets.
The vine spreads byrooting at each nodeand through its stolons (above-ground stems).
Even when cut back severely, an established Chinese wisteria produces vigorous new growth.
The Spruce / Loren Probish
The vine is tough.
What Does Chinese Wisteria Look Like?
Chinese wisteria is a deciduous woody vine with smooth gray-brown stems that are covered with fine white hairs.
The Spruce / Loren Probish
The flower racemes are 6 to 12 inches long andlavender to purple in color.
The flowers are especially showy because they bloom at the same time on the racemes.
After the bloom, the vine develops large brown velvety seedpods that look like beans.
The Spruce / Loren Probish
The 4- to 6-inch seedpods often remain on the vine throughout the fall and into the winter.
It is labor-intensive and requires you to keep an eye on the plant all season long.
If possible, dig up the roots as well.
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New sprouts are likely to grow in a few weeks.
The Asian wisteria species, both Chinese wisteria andJapanese wisteria, have long pendulous blossoms with loose dripping petals.
American wisteria blooms are shorter, rounder, and more compact.
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American wisteria is less aromatic than Chinese wisteria.
It requires pruning and repotting to grow the way you want.
It requires ample sun and frequent watering to keep it growing well.
Keep this delicate plant away from drafts.
It can grow up to 10 feet per year.
Chinese wisteria produces fragrant flowers that many describe as grape-scented.
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis.
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Japanese Wisteria; Chinese Wisteria.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
