How to Train a Wisteria Tree. The clusters hang straight down from stems along its climbing vines that can grow to 25 feet or more in height. Previous Next. Wisteria is found from Maine to Florida, and as far west as Arkansas. Chinese Wisteria. Technically there are 9 species of wisteria but the most common are the Chinese, Japanese and American wisteria plants. Wisteria floribunda is less vigorous than the Chinese wisteria, and less likely to cause problems when grown on buildings. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is suggested as a Florida-friendly alternative. It can be grown traditionally on the wall of a large house or allowed to scramble through a large tree. The Blue Chinese Wisteria tree is easy to grow, adaptable to a variety of soil, drought and deer tolerant as well as disease resistant. Wisteria sinensis. It has been widely planted and cultivated and is still very popular in the nursery trade despite its … Wisteria floribunda (common name Japanese wisteria) is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to Japan. Seed Pods. It produces magnificent hanging grape-like clusters (racemes) of fragrant blue-violet flowers in the late spring and provides quite a show. Wisteria ‘Summer Cascade’ is the first wisteria proven hardy to zone 3. The most coveted wisterias are two Asian species, Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) and its doppelgänger, Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis). The genus includes ten s… These vines have the longest clusters of flowers of any wisteria, sometimes up to 18 inches long. Among the darkest purple Wisteria cultivars, award-winning Wisteria floribunda 'Royal Purple' (Japanese Wisteria) produces stunning tresses of sweetly scented, pea-like violet flowers, up to 20 in. Chinese Wisteria . About 99.9% of the plants sold are Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)—thuggish Asian imports that frequently escape managed gardens. Chinese Wisteria flowers before the … You can tell the two apart by the direction the twining stems turn in: clockwise in the case of Japanese wisteria and counterclockwise in the case of Chinese wisteria. 7685. These Asian imports have become the favorites of gardeners because of their showy flower clusters, intense fragrance, and the wide array of color options and cultivars available. Otherwise they’re pretty much identical. Wisteria sinensis, commonly called Chinese wisteria, is a deciduous vine that grows vigorously to 25’ or more and features 6-12” long racemes of mildly-fragrant, pea-like, blue-violet flowers in May when the foliage is just beginning to expand.Flowers bloom somewhat simultaneously on the racemes thus producing a dramatic floral display. Get all the details below! There are actually two types of Wisteria; Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria foribunda). Dramatic clusters of blue-violet to red-violet flowers with an intoxicating fragrance grace this vigorous twining climber. The hardy Summer Cascade™ wisteria was bred from a hardy strain of Kentucky wisteria and first known as ‘Betty Matthews,’ after a White Bear Lake resident in whose yard it grew. Japanese Wisteria twines clockwise around its support. They climb the tallest trees, spread at light speed, and their muscular, twining stems can bend iron, crush an arbor, or throttle small trees to death. Kentucky wisteria (W. macrostachya) typically has shorter, denser panicles than the Chinese or Japanese wisterias. Wisteria is sold in garden centers and nurseries and can be found in numerous home gardens across the country. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) are not native to North America and are considered invasive species in some states. Wisteria sinensis (Sims) A.P. Can be trained as a small tree. So, I’ll give the basics on how to tell which wisteria you have. For bonsai the most common species are the Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and the Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) which produces the longest flower clusters. For example, Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) twines counterclockwise while the Japanese variety (W. floribunda) is the opposite, twining clockwise. the Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is the most vigorous type of the type Wisteria. Deciduous. Wisteria flowers make any garden enchanting and exotic looking. It belongs to the papilionaceous family (Fabaceae) and is also known as wisteria. The color can change, so don’t look at that so much. While wisteria is great for covering an arbor or pergola, training wisteria vines makes it easier to control. Wisteria is a perennial vine with wonderfully fragrant flowers, often lavender, that grow in clusters, similar to grapes. If you have tried to grow a regular Chinese wisteria in a cold area and never had blooms, then the Blue Moon Wisteria is for you. Wisteria ‘Summer Cascade’ is the first wisteria proven hardy to zone 3. The seed pods of all varieties are brown when ripe. Wisteria Floribunda (the Japanese one) Wisteria Sinensis (the Chinese one) Japanese Wisteria has large 12 to 18 inch clusters of flowers. Flowers open sequentially from top to bottom, so that it may begin to fade at the top as the bottom most flowers are still opening. Japanese and Chinese wisteria will often produce a secondary flowering late in the year, but American wisteria tends to produce blooms throughout the summer. Wisteria floribunda. Fast grower with stems to 25 feet or longer. The species has lavender flowers but named varieties are available in shades of violet or white. The fragrant, pea-like flowers of Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, open in early summer on bare stems. An interesting fact is that Chinese Wisteria twists clockwise around objects in its path, while Japanese Wisteria twists counterclockwise. Putting on one of the most impressive spring floral displays of any flowering vine, the Blue Chinese Wisteria Vine is desired for its abundant 6 to 12 inch long clusters of fragrant lavender-blue flowers. Typically racemes are longer and open later than Chinese Wisteria, often blooming at the same time that leaves are forming. Blooming in late spring or early summer, the flowers are followed by attractive, bean-like pods, which ripen in late summer and may persist into winter. Perfect for covering patios, arbors or fences. Chinese Wisteria flowers early – March, April or May. There are native, W. frutescens, and non-native types of wisteria, including Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis). The Chinese wisteria is also a vigorous climber that originated from China. Wisteria is one of the most popular and spectacular of all flowering garden plants and adds stunning effect to any gardenor landscape. Chinese Wisteria/Japanese Wisteria Destroys Native Wildlife Habitats SKU. It starts before there are any leaves on the vine. Chinese wisteria is an aggressive plant that can potentially take over an area of the garden. Full to partial sun. Amethyst Falls American Wisteria Frutescens Vine Live Plant by Wellspring Gardens. Wisteria floribunda: Japanese Wisteria. long (50 cm). Japanese Wisteria flowers come in white, pink, blue and violet and are very fragrant. It produces beautiful violet-blue flowers that grow clusters called racemes. Its springtime cascading flower clusters can grow to 3 feet long or more in some cultivars. Wisteria sinensis is a rapid growing deciduous climber hardy to zone 5. Noteworthy Characteristics. The long velvety seed pods can literally explode and catapult their seeds out when they get ripe. Wisteria sinensis or Wisteria floribunda - Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria are very large deciduous vines with extremely showy and elegant flowers. Kentucky Wisteria. The following varieties are the most spread and most popular: Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) 1. is a climbing plant which holds extremely scented, white blossoms Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) 1. shows itself with moderately smelling, violet or rose colored blossom grapes of up to 70 centimeters Japanese and Chinese wisteria are almost identical, except Japanese vines twirl clockwise and Chinese vines twirl counter-clockwise around a supporting structure. These clusters are typically 9-12 inches long and are not as long or old hardy as those from the Japanese wisteria. Seed pods and seed are poisonous. So consider yourself warned: Chinese wisteria can be maintained, but will require at least a monthly pruning to control the growth. de Cand. Pea family (Fabaceae) Origin: China Background Chinese wisteria was introduced in 1916 as an ornamental plant. The two species of wisteria most commonly grown in the United States are Japanese wisteria and Chinese wisteria. Wisteria belongs to the Pea family, Fabaceae (formerly Leguminoseae). It usually flowers as the leaves are developing. Blooms typically open first at the base and last at the tip of each cluster. As its name suggests, Wisteria sinensis is originally native to China. Native alternatives for Chinese and Japanese Wisteria American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), native from Virginia to Missouri and south to Florida and Texas, is a clockwise twining deciduous woody vine that grows to 40 feet or more. 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