About

This deciduous, twining climber with leaves divided into narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. This free-flowering cultivar produces long racemes of perfumed white flowers tinged violet-blue from late spring into early summer.

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
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
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

CultivationCan be grown informally through a large tree or more formally against a house wall or trained as a free-standing half standard in a container. Will grow in most soils that are moist but well-drained. See wisteria cultivation for more advice
PruningPrune twice a year for best results, see pruning wisteria for detailed advice
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