Scientific Name
Wisteria sinensis (Sims) Sweet
Synonym(s)
Glycine sinensis, Millettia chinensis, Rehsonia sinensis, Wistaria sinensis, Wisteria chinensis, Wisteria praecox
Common Name(s)
Chinese Wisteria, Chinese Kidney Bean
Scientific Classification
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Millettieae
Genus: Wisteria
Origin
Wisteria sinensis is native to China in Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan.
Flower
Color: Lavender to purple
Bloom Time: Spring
Description
Wisteria sinensis is a woody deciduous perennial climbing vine that grows up to 100 feet (30 m) long over supporting trees by counterclockwise-twining stems. Leaves are shiny green, pinnately compound, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, with 9 to 13 oblong leaflets, each up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long.
The flowers are lavender to purple, produced on up to 8 inches (20 cm) racemes before the leaves emerge in spring. They open simultaneously on each raceme before the foliage has expanded. The flowers have a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. The fruit is a flattened, brown, velvety, bean-like pod, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, with thick, disk-like seeds up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter, spaced evenly inside.
Cultivars of Wisteria sinensis
How to Grow and Care for Wisteria sinensis
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 5a to 10a from -20°F (-28.9°C) to 35°F (1.7°C).
The most important factor to consider when growing Wisteria is location. Wisteria is a twining vine that requires sturdy support and regular pruning to keep it under control. Open areas surrounded by an easy-to-mow lawn are ideal for growing Wisteria.
Wisteria doesn't fare well in the cold, so ensure it receives plenty of sunlight. This vine requires deep, fertile soil that is somewhat moist, but it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
Once planted, pruning is the only important requirement for Wisteria vine care. Since this vine is an aggressive grower, there's no need for fertilizing, and being drought-tolerant, Wisteria requires little watering.
While Wisteria is great for covering an arbor or pergola, training Wisteria vines makes it easier to control. Keep in mind, however, when training Wisteria vines, the variety may exhibit different twining characteristics. For example, Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) twines counterclockwise, while the Japanese variety (Wisteria floribunda) is the opposite, twining clockwise.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Wisteria.
Links
- Back to genus Wisteria
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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