American Wisteria
(Wisteria frutescens)
American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
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mfeaver
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mfeaver
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CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: mfeaver | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: mfeaver | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-04-10T11:24:20-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Wisteria frutescens, commonly known as American Wisteria, is a deciduous perennial vine native to wetlands, pond peripheries, and stream borders in the Central and Southeastern USA. It can grow vigorously up to 15 m long, climbing over various supports with powerful counterclockwise-twining stems. American Wisteria blooms in late spring to early summer, producing the smallest racemes among Wisteria species, with dense clusters of blue-purple, two-lipped flowers each about 2 cm (3⁄4 in) wide. The foliage is comprised of shiny, dark-green leaves with 9-15 oblong leaflets. Notably, it bears numerous poisonous, bean-like seed pods 5–10 cm (2–3+7⁄8 in) long that mature in summer and persist into winter. These pods are fuzzy and greenish-tan when young, becoming shiny brown and smooth when dry, with large brown seeds inside.
American Wisteria is valued for its manageably-sized flowers, which make it suitable for bonsai, and its charming appearance as a woodland flowering vine. It is often used for arbors, trellises, and pergolas in gardens. While it prefers moist soils, it is adaptable to various soil types with fast, medium, or slow drainage. It is shade tolerant but requires partial to full sun for optimal flowering. It thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 5–9. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to spread and should manage growth to prevent it from becoming invasive.CC BY-SA 4.0
American Wisteria is valued for its manageably-sized flowers, which make it suitable for bonsai, and its charming appearance as a woodland flowering vine. It is often used for arbors, trellises, and pergolas in gardens. While it prefers moist soils, it is adaptable to various soil types with fast, medium, or slow drainage. It is shade tolerant but requires partial to full sun for optimal flowering. It thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 5–9. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to spread and should manage growth to prevent it from becoming invasive.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Vine
- Height: 15-30 feet
- Width: 4-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Potted Plant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Wetlands, pond peripheries, and stream borders
Other Names
Common Names: Amerikanskt Blåregn
Scientific Names: Wisteria frutescens , Glycine frutescens , Wisteria speciosa , Apios frutescens , Glycine caerulea , Kraunhia frutescens , Thyrsanthus frutescens , Bradlea frutescens , Bradlea macrostachya , Kraunhia macrostachya
GBIF Accepted Name: Wisteria frutescens (L.) Poir.