Everything you should know about Wisteria

Elegant ornamental wisteria vine/ tree blooms with a garden full of a fragrance that takes everyone’s heart with its deep silent violet flowers. This alluring gloomy wisteria is popular worldwide for its beauty, drawn from its native land representing China, Korea, Japan, and the eastern United States.

Here we explain all about the importance and how to grow these marvelous flowering plants.

Introduction

Wisteria is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Legume. This purplish gloomy flower grows vigorously and blooms during spring and early summer. This aggressive grower can often reach up to 30 feet and even more.

Every part of Wisteria consists of chemicals called lectin and wisterin. These chemicals are considered to be toxic to pets, livestock, and humans too. It can be fatal if consumed in a large amount. Hence it must be handled with great care.

 

 

Because of its property to grow vigorously, Wisteria tree/ vines are suggested not to plant it closer to the house. Wisteria vines will be better if it is managed to flow on pergolas or some other strong overhanging supports. This support will help the flowers to hang freely.

For Wisteria to begin flowering and maintain elegance, various factors should be considered, such as water, sunlight, soil, fertilizer, proper pruning, etc.

Various species of Wisteria

Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)

American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

Kentucky Wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya)

 

How to plant Wisteria?

– Firstly, choose a variety of Wisteria to be planted according to your need.

– Dig a hole to plant the Wisteria in a proper location where it gets a sufficient amount of sunlight

– Garnish the hole with a sufficient amount of compost manure.

– Then, plant the plantlet into the hole and provide enough amount of water.

– Wisteria can also be planted in a container if you do not want to plant it in your garden. But make sure the container is large enough, and it could receive an adequate amount of compost manure, sunlight, and water.

 

When to plant Wisteria?

The best time to plant Wisteria is during spring or early summer. Before planting, make sure the soil is fertile and well-drained.

Where to plant wisteria?

1. Wisteria must be planted in the portion of the garden where it gets a sufficient amount of sunlight. If it does not receive the proper amount of sunlight, it won’t bloom flowers.

2. Wisteria tree should not be planted near other plants. As it is a rapid grower, it overcomes the nearby plants.

3. Do not plant too close to your house as it could damage by covering the structure.

4. It must be planted in the area with sufficient manure and drainage.

 

How to propagate Wisteria?

Planting wisteria trees from seeds take 15-20 years to bloom. So, cutting and grafting are the best methods to propagate wisteria trees or wisteria vines.

 

How to care for wisteria?

– As wisteria is an aggressive grower, one must be very careful regarding its growth to maintain the size and length of the plant.

– To obtain more blooms, try cutting some rampant shoots every two weeks during summer.

– Keep cutting the longer shoots to maintain the size and appearance.

– For Wisteria vines to grow in a pergola, provide firm support. And train the vines to grow on the support.

– Keep providing all the essentials for the plant to grow and flower to bloom, such as compost manure, water, etc.

– Aphids and other pests might infect and affect Wisteria tree. So to avoid the infection, spray insecticides around the trunk of the trees and immediately remove all the dead branches of your Wisteria.

Things to be considered

Here are some important things to be considered for the proper growth and bloom of Wisteria:

1. Avoid planting Wisteria from seed:

Planting wisteria from seed takes a very long time. It takes about 15-20 years for Wisteria to bloom flowers. So, for proper growth and to obtain flowering early, it is suggested to plant Wisteria by cutting or grafting methods which will bloom within 2-3 years.

2. Choose a proper variety:

Chinese and Japanese variety of Wisteria grows very vigorously and is difficult to manage in a small area. But the North American variety of Wisteria grows in a controlled manner and can be handled easily. As well, this North American variety does not possess aggressive growth. Hence before choosing to plant it, a suitable variety must be selected.

3. Fertilizer:

High amount of nitrogen fertilizer shouldn’t be applied to Wisteria for the proper and healthy growth of flowers in Wisteria.

4. Sunlight:

Wisteria tree proliferates well on proper sunlight. So, it should be planted in the direction where it gets exposed to a sufficient amount of sunlight.

 

Advantages of growing Wisteria

1. Wisteria flower is of great ornamental value.

2. Wisteria grows aggressively so that large vines can be obtained within a short time.

3. It can grow easily and give the beauty of its purplish essence.

Disadvantages of growing Wisteria 

1. They are tough to manage.

2. It takes a very long time to bear flowers if planted from seeds.

3. Sometimes, planting ornamental variety could take over the native variety. The American variety used as an ornamental flowering plant could take over the species that belong originally to Asia. 

4. Wisteria seeds are toxic.

Conclusion

These twinning Wisteria vines are important for their majestic fragrance of purple flowers. Having both pros and cons, if managed properly and given good care from time to time, wisteria gives a massive attraction to a garden. Meanwhile, Wisteria carries the beauty of your garden.

Behind gardening for its ornamental value, native or wild type of Wisteria flowers carries great importance in natural ecosystem balancing. As this wild-type variety is a very vigorous grower, it doesn’t limit its growth and grows much heavier.

After planting the ornamental variation, wisteria gives you the bloom of its beauty after 2-3 years. It is suggested to plant from grafting as it gives flowering soon within 2-3 years. If it were planted from seed, it would take 15-20 long years.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should you cut back wisteria after flowering?

It will be better if you cut the long shoots of the wisteria after flowering. This will help to maintain the size of the plant as well gives more flowers than leaves.

2. Can Wisteria damage your house?

Wisteria is a vigorous grower, and if you plant it close to your house without installing any support, it may damage the pipes, causing long-term damage. So to avoid this, install the wire support so that the plant could grow on the wire support without affecting the walls of your house.

3. How much water does Wisteria need?

Wisteria needs water sufficiently for the proper development of roots. So, once the root developed fully during the first year, then more water is not required. A small amount will be sufficient for wisteria for further growth. A large amount of water after root development might affect flower development.

 

4. Is wisteria toxic?

The seeds of wisteria are highly toxic. Wisteria consists of toxic chemicals called lectin and wisterin, which seem to be toxic to pets and humans. It can even be fatal if consumed in a large amount.

5. Is Wisteria poisonous to touch?

No, but every part of wisteria is toxic when consumed, as it consists of chemicals, lectin, and wisterin, which seem to be poisonous to cats, dogs, and even humans.

6. How do you keep the Wisteria tree under control?

Pruning the shoots regularly is the only way to control Wisteria tree. Keep pruning the shoots regularly in some instant during summer. This will help to control the aggressive growth of Wisteria.

Did you like the article? Please don’t forget to give suggestions and feedback in the comment section below.

Also, read about growing crocus plants to compliment your garden with beautiful flowers. Happy Gardening!