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Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria)

Other names: Chinese kidney bean, Wisteria chinensis

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Species
W. sinensis is a large, vigorous, deciduous climber with twining stems bearing pinnate, dark green leaves divided into ovate to elliptic leaflets and pendent racemes of fragrant, mauve or lilac flowers opening as or before the leaves emerge. Flowers are followed by velvety, bean-like, green seed pods.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
15 m 12 m 10-20 years
49 ft 39 ft 10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Site carefully as this is a large, long-loved climber. Can be grown informally through a large tree or more formally against a house wall.

Suggested uses

Wallside and trellises

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Moderate/Medium
Low Desert = Moderate/Medium

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Climbing, Spreading

Native to

China

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Fragrance

Flowers are strongly fragrant.

Toxicity

All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested.

Plant care

Pruning

Propagation methods

Layering, Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings, Grafting

Pests

Scale insects

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Leaf spot

Take hardwood cuttings in autumn and winter

Take softwood cuttings

Propagate from grafting in winter (advanced)

Plant container grown plants in a sunny sheltered spot

Layer in early summer

Prune wisteria (optional)

Pruning wisteria (optional)

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (38)

Wisteria

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Wisteria (any variety)
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Wisteria (any variety) Wisteria (any variety)
Wisteria floribunda 'Harlequin'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Harlequin' Japanese wisteria 'Harlequin'
Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro-kapitan'
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Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro-kapitan' Silky wisteria 'Shiro-kapitan'
Wisteria floribunda 'Magenta'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Magenta' Japanese wisteria 'Magenta'
Wisteria brachybotrys 'Okayama'
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Wisteria brachybotrys 'Okayama' Silky wisteria 'Okayama'
Wisteria 'Lavender Lace'
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Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' Wisteria 'Lavender Lace'
Wisteria frutescens
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Wisteria frutescens American wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon' Japanese wisteria 'Black Dragon'
Wisteria floribunda 'Cascade'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Cascade' Japanese wisteria 'Cascade'
Wisteria floribunda 'Domino'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Domino' Japanese wisteria 'Domino'
Wisteria floribunda 'Lipstick'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Lipstick' Japanese Wisteria 'Lipstick'
Wisteria floribunda 'Purple Patches'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Purple Patches' Japanese wisteria 'Purple Patches'
Wisteria x formosa 'Caroline'
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Wisteria x formosa 'Caroline' Wisteria 'Caroline'
Wisteria floribunda 'Burford'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Burford' Japanese wisteria 'Burford'
Wisteria floribunda 'Yae-kokuryu'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Yae-kokuryu' Japanese wisteria 'Yae-kokuryu'
Wisteria floribunda f. multijuga 'Kyushaku'
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Wisteria floribunda f. multijuga 'Kyushaku' Pinnate-leaved many-flowered wisteria 'Kyushaku'
Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'
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Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls' Chinese wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'
Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'
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Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific' Chinese wisteria 'Prolific'
Wisteria sinensis
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Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria
Wisteria sinensis 'Alba'
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Wisteria sinensis 'Alba' White chinese wisteria
Wisteria floribunda f. alba 'Shiro-noda'
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Wisteria floribunda f. alba 'Shiro-noda' White japanese wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea' Pink japanese wisteria
Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro Kapitan Fuji'
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Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro Kapitan Fuji' Wisteria 'Shiro Kapitan Fuji'
Wisteria macrostachya
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Wisteria macrostachya Kentucky wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Geisha'
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Wisteria floribunda 'Geisha' Japanese wisteria 'Geisha'
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Companion plants (5)

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0 selected
Laburnum anagyroides 'Yellow Rocket'
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Laburnum anagyroides 'Yellow Rocket' Laburnum 'Yellow Rocket'
Laburnum x watereri 'Sunspire'
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Laburnum x watereri 'Sunspire' Waterer laburnum 'Sunspire'
Laburnum anagyroides
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Laburnum anagyroides Common laburnum
Piptanthus nepalensis
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Piptanthus nepalensis Evergreen laburnum
Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii'
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Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' Voss's laburnum
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Related content

Discuss Wisteria sinensis with other Shoot members

Re: Wisteria in container

Patricia B
936 0
Thanks Kathy, that was very helpful. This question was for my son who has been given a Wisteria by his girlfriend and will need to keep it in a pot for a few years until he gets a place with a garden!
Posted: Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 06:22 PM

Re: Wisteria in container

Kathy N
936 0
Hi, Patricia,
You can, but it will take some work. Since most cultivars are quite vigorous, you would want to select a large container and you would need to prune it regularly. It is usually recommended that containerised wisteria are trained as standards. Also, every 3-4 years, you would want to root prune the plant - lifting and removing 1/3 of the rootball - so it didn't get pot bound. Finally, you would want to make sure it was fed regularly.
Kathy C
Posted: Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 05:45 PM

Wisteria in container

Patricia B
936 2
Can this Wisteria be grown in a container.
Posted: Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 01:57 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 08:14 AM
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