Japanese Wisteria
(Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
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Forest and Kim Starr
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Forest and Kim Starr
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Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Forest and Kim Starr | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Starr Environmental | Publisher: Flickr |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Wisteria floribunda, commonly known as Japanese wisteria, is a deciduous, woody, twining climber native to moist stream banks and forest edges in Japan. It can grow up to 9 meters (30 feet) and is known for its vigorous growth and stunning floral displays. Introduced to the United States in the 1830s, Japanese wisteria has become a beloved ornamental plant in gardens and is also used for bonsai. Its flower racemes are the longest of any wisteria, reaching up to 2 meters (7 feet), and bloom in early to mid-spring with white, pink, violet, or blue flowers that emit a grape-like fragrance. The plant’s appearance is characterized by its long, pendulous racemes and its ability to grow over 30 meters (98 feet) across various supports with its powerful clockwise-twining stems.
Japanese wisteria is celebrated for its breathtakingly long flower racemes and sweet scent, making it a favorite for pergolas, trellises, and walls. It requires patience as it takes years to transition from juvenile to adult flowering stage. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. While it can live over 50 years, gardeners should be cautious of its invasive potential outside its native range and its susceptibility to frost damage to early buds. Pruning is essential to control growth and promote flowering.CC BY-SA 4.0
Japanese wisteria is celebrated for its breathtakingly long flower racemes and sweet scent, making it a favorite for pergolas, trellises, and walls. It requires patience as it takes years to transition from juvenile to adult flowering stage. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. While it can live over 50 years, gardeners should be cautious of its invasive potential outside its native range and its susceptibility to frost damage to early buds. Pruning is essential to control growth and promote flowering.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Vine
- Height: 10-25 feet
- Width: 4-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Purple, Blue
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Moist stream banks and forest edges in Japan
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: , Wisteria floribunda, Wisteria floribunda f. macrobotrys, Wisteria floribunda var. macrobotrys, Wisteria floribunda f. alba, Wisteria multijuga, Rehsonia floribunda, Dolichos polystachyos, Kraunhia floribunda, Rehsonia nipponica
GBIF Accepted Name: Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC.