Start growing
Needs a very strong support (can crush weak trellises). Prune aggressively.
GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.
THE PLANT NOTEBOOK
Wisteria care, from seed onward.
- Botanical name
- Wisteria sinensis
- Common names
- Chinese Wisteria
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Wisteria
- Species
- W. sinensis
Growing with your kit
The Seeds In A Cup® kit demonstrates the vigorous growth of this legume vine from large, bean-like seeds.
Propagation
By layering, cuttings, or seed.
Seasonal growth & harvest
Blooms in spring before leaves appear. Can live 100+ years.
Growing conditions
Forest edges and stream banks.
Weather & tolerances
Drought tolerant; adaptable to soil types.
Pests & plant health
Aphids and scale.
Plant safety
Seeds and pods are toxic if ingested.
Botanical features
A woody, deciduous climbing vine with massive drooping clusters (racemes) of fragrant purple/blue flowers.
Varieties
‘Blue Sapphire’, ‘Alba’.
Garden & everyday uses
Spectacular ornamental coverage for pergolas and arches
Native range & distribution
Native to China; widely planted globally.
Conservation
Secure; considered invasive in some US states.
Name origins
Named after Caspar Wistar, an American anatomist.
History
A major motif in Japanese and Chinese art for centuries.