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Wisteria
Wisteria
Also called chinese wisteria and japanese wisteria
Wisteria blooms from April through May.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Wisteria
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 26 ft tall and 13 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 5 years.
When to plant Wisteria
Plant Wisteria in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from April to May.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Comes in 4 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Wisteria
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to people, dogs, cats and horses; all parts, and the dangling seed pods worst. Eating them brings vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Keep pods from children. per ASPCA and National Capital Poison Center
Worth knowing
The vigor that makes it beautiful can wreck things: thick trunk-like stems pry apart gutters, crush a light trellis, or girdle and kill a tree. Use a heavy support. per NC State and University of Maryland
Native vs invasive species
In the eastern US, Chinese and Japanese wisteria are aggressive invasives that strangle trees. Plant the native American wisteria (W. frutescens), which is far better behaved. per NC State and University of Maryland
Slow to first bloom
A young wisteria in full sun that will not flower is usually just immature. Many take until their second or third year, sometimes much longer if seed-grown. per NC State
Prune twice a year
Prune hard about twice a year to tame it and boost flowering: shorten the long whippy summer shoots, then cut back to a few buds in late winter. per NC State and Clemson
Deer resistant
Reported deer resistant across the native and both Asian species, in keeping with its toxic, unpalatable leaves that browsers avoid. per NC State
Pollinator and wildlife value
The fragrant spring flowers draw bees and butterflies, and the native American wisteria hosts Zarucco Duskywing and Long-Tailed Skipper caterpillars. per NC State
What pairs well with Wisteria
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; shorter at 4.9 ft, an understory layer.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; shorter at 4.9 ft, an understory layer.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; low at 3.3 ft, to carpet the ground beneath it.
Blue Oat Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; orange against blue, for contrast.
Aster
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; purple sits close to blue on the wheel.
Lavender
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; purple sits close to blue on the wheel.
Pampas Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; shorter at 8.2 ft, an understory layer.
Jasmine
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; shorter at 9.8 ft, an understory layer; a soft color beside the blue.
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