Japanese Wisteria

Japanese Wisteria

Wisteria floribunda

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

▲ ▼ old wisteria vine climbing elm tree in Monroe, LA (tree trunk is over 2 foot diameter)

▲ ▼ Vine trained to tree form

▲ ▼ flowers

Location on/near campus: on Maryland St., off Loren, south of campus

Wisteria floribunda: Japanese Wisteria

• vine with deciduous, alternate, pinnately compound, light-green leaves with 7-13 leaflets (usually 11)
• leaflets are 2-3" long, ovate with entire margins
• violet, fragrant flowers borne in 8-20" long hanging racemes on previous season's growth in early spring; often flowers open from base of cluster toward tip
• vine climbs by twining (clockwise) (compared to Wisteria sinensis twining counterclockwise)
• prefers full sun to part shade, moist, well-drained soil, slightly higher pH
• prune heavily after flowering and sparingly through growing season to direct growth and maintain many flower buds for next spring
• train over trellis or stake and prune heavily to train to tree shape
• avoid overfertilizing which produces too much vine and few flowers; can be rampant and weedy if not regularly pruned
• fast growth rate