About
Slightly perfumed, violet-blue to white flowers up to 3cm long are borne in racemes 10-15cm long and followed by velvety seedpods. a vigorous, deciduous climber twining anticlockwise and reaching a height and spread of 9m or more. The leaves comprise 9-13 oval to ovate, downy leaflets.
About the genus
Wisteria are vigorous woody climbers with twining stems bearing pinnate leaves and long pendulous racemes of fragrant pea-like flowers in spring and early summer
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height8-12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
FragranceFlower
ToxicityHarmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a fertile, moist, well-drained soil in sun or semi shade. May be trained into a large tree, on a wall, arch or pergola, or as a free-standing half standard. See wisteria cultivation for more advice
PruningSee pruning wisteria
PropagationPropagate by layering, softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings or grafting
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, and scale insects including wisteria scale
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, coral spot, fungal leaf spot, virus diseases, and powdery mildews