Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is a common ornamental vine in temperate regions, known for its rich, pendulous clusters of purple flowers. The flowers are very fragrant and have a scent similar to grapes. This plant is a beautiful addition to your spring garden, but be aware – all parts of Chinese wisteria are toxic when ingested.
| Common name | Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria |
| Botanical name | Wisteria sinensis |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Species | sinensis |
| Origin | China |
| Life cycle | Woody |
| Plant type | Vine |
| Hardiness zone | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
| Maintenance | High |
| Soil condition | Clay |
| Soil ph | Acid |
| Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Spacing | 12 in. – 3 ft. |
| Harvest time | Fall |
| Flowering period | Spring |
| Height | 1- 25 ft. |
| Width | 1- 25 ft. |
| Flower color | Blue |
| Leaf color | Green |
| Fruit color | Green |
| Stem color | Brown, Copper |
| Fruit type | Legume |
| Fruit benefit | Showy |
| Leaf benefit | Showy |
| Flower benefit | Edible |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Wisteria sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese wisteria, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, native to China, in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its twisting stems and masses of scented flowers in hanging racemes, in spring.
Wisteria sinensis clings to supporting plants or man-made structures by counterclockwise-twining stems. The leaves are shiny, green, pinnately compound, 10–30 cm in length, with 9-13 oblong leaflets that are each 2–6 cm long. The flowers are white, violet, or blue, produced on 15–20 cm racemes before the leaves emerge in spring. The flowers on each raceme open simultaneously before the foliage has expanded, and have a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. Though it has shorter racemes than Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria), it often has a higher quantity of racemes.
The fruit is a flattened, brown, velvety, bean-like pod 5–10 cm long with thick disk-like seeds around 1 cm in diameter spaced evenly inside; they mature in summer and crack and twist open to release the seeds; the empty pods often persist until winter. However seed production is often low, and most regenerative growth occurs through layering and suckering.
All parts of the plant contain a glycoside called wisterin which is toxic if ingested and may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Wisterias have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis.
Wisteria sinensis was unknown in the west before 1816, when several agents of the East India Company working in China sent cuttings back to England. Over the next several decades the plant became, and remains, one of the quintessential ornamental vines in temperate gardens worldwide. A 200-year-old specimen, growing at Griffin’s Brewery in Chiswick, London, is often cited as the UK’s oldest living wisteria plant.
It has become an invasive species in some areas of the eastern United States where the climate closely matches that of China.
Chinese wisteria is more sensitive to cold than American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Although root hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-20 Fahrenheit), the vine can suffer serious dieback during such cold snaps. Moreover, the frequency of spring frosts in Zones 5 and 6 can kill latent flower buds, so that the plant might only bloom sporadically.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Chinese wisteria likes ample sunlight and need to be exposed to over 6 hours of light every day. The plant can thrive in open fields and gardens, as well as on the sun-facing sides of buildings. If it doesn’t receive enough light in the flowering season, the number of blossoms may reduce and the flowers might be smaller than normal.
Temperature
Chinese wisteria originates from East Asia and likes warm, moist climates. It is suitable for growing in environments with a temperature range of 18 to 28 ℃. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -30 ℃ but may grow poorly when the temperature rises above 35 ℃. It requires abundant water. Soil should be kept moist in spring and summer or its growth and blooming will be affected.
Watering
Chinese wisteria needs plenty of water for growth. It’s best to keep the soil moist in spring and summer. When continual dry days create drought conditions, it needs to be watered promptly and thoroughly each day. When it rains a lot, reduce the frequency of watering and keep the soil well-drained to prevent the roots from rotting. When the leaves shed in the fall, water the plant sufficiently. When it enters dormancy in the winter, stop watering.
Soil
Chinese wisteria has deep roots and best grows in deep, neutral soil (pH value at 6-7) with good drainage. Soil with poor drainage affects the growth of the roots, causing difficulty with water absorption that can lead to the plant losing water, and even disease. If the soil is poor in air permeability and water drainage, you can improve it by adding a reasonable amount of peat soil, organic manures, or river sands. Additionally, grow the plant at an elevated site to help water drain appropriately.
Fertilizing
In spring and summer, fertilize plants once every two weeks, or every month depending on how the chinese wisteria is growing. When a plant buds in spring, apply some balanced fertilizers (with a 20-20-20 NPK ratio), and switch to phosphate and potash fertilizer to promote blooming. This helps flowers flourish gorgeously and in greater numbers. When Chinese wisteria shed leaves in the fall, apply organic fertilizers to the plants and water adequately. This will aid in growth the following spring.
Planting Instructions
Transplanting is best performed in spring or summer. Because Chinese wisteria has long roots that easily wind, extra caution is needed for transplanting. It’s best to transplant it with the roots wrapped in the surrounding soil to prevent root damage. Before transplanting, apply a little organic fertilizer to the planting pit. Water adequately after transplanting and shade in partial sunlight to prevent water loss.
After Chinese wisteria is planted, draw each plant’s branches to the trellis. Because it has a long life span and can grow very lush and exuberant foliage later, a wooden trellis might not be sufficient. Therefore, it’s best to use a metal trellis. Prevent the branches from overlapping each other and make sure the foliage is equally exposed to sufficient sunlight, then secure the branches with ropes.
Pruning
Chinese wisteria likes ample sunlight, so it’s a good idea to prune off overly dense foliage to improve light conditions in the lower parts of it. This will also improve ventilation and help prevent pests and diseases. After blooming, properly prune off the withered flowers to reduce its nutrient consumption. If slender, weak, old, dried, pest-infested, or disease-infected branches are found, prune them off promptly.
Propagation
Chinese wisteria can propagate by sowing, cuttings, grafting, etc. Harvest ripe fruits in the late fall. These can be sown the following spring after soaking in water. For cutting, you can also cut off robust, newly-sprouted branches in the spring and stick them in moist, well-drained soil.
Transplanting
Transplant chinese wisteria in the earliest days of spring, as this provides the best opportunity for establishment. Ensure a sunny to partially shaded location, with fertile and well-drained soil. When transplanting, remember to gently loosen its root ball and water it thoroughly.
III. Uses and Benefits
Chinese wisteria is good for planting by pools, rockery and other places. It is one of the most common of the nine species of wisteria. It is an important part of gardens looking for a thick, quick coverage, as its vines grow and spread rapidly, doing well across sturdy trellises and rockery. It is used to create privacy for gardens and pools because of its dense growth and heavy blooms, which also perfume the surrounding area. It does well with rock gardens and is often planted with large trees which can support its vines and help its growth.
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