Chinese wisteria (scientific name, Wisteria sinensis) is a deciduous perennial vine with a twining growth habit. Each spring, apply a layer of compost under the plant and a 2-inch layer of. Submitted by Shauna on June 4, 2020 - 9:17am. Trellises and other supports must be sturdy to hold the plant's weight. (To know how much rain you are getting, you can place an empty food can outside and measure the depth of water with a measuring stick.). What an impressive climber. Do you have a new wisteria? It has grow ALL the way up. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is a deciduous perennial vine with a twining growth habit. Good luck! The American variety is recommended for landscape use because it is much less invasive. I have a 30 year old Wisteria that has bloomed beautifully every year Since it was a tiny baby. Cut the vine back severely right after planting. For example, if it was killed by too much or too little sun, too much or too little water, etc., it wouldn’t be a good idea to put a new wisteria there. A delightful woody vine valued for its drooping clusters of fragrant, violet-blue, pea-like flowers that bloom in spring. Japanese Wisteria has alternate odd pinnately compound leaves that have 13 to 19 leaflets on 4 to 16 inch stalks. Most gardeners are unaware of the wide range of characteristics offered by Wisteria species and their cultivars in terms of bloom season, fragrance, length of flower clusters (racemes), flower colors, fall foliage. Keep each cutting moist at all times–it is susceptible to losing moisture quickly; to do this, if you don’t have a greenhouse, you can place the container in a plastic bag, but open it to let air circulate every few days for about 10 or so minutes. Submitted by Sheila Turner on October 6, 2020 - 5:55pm. It says don’t plant near structures or house yet the photo shows it growing up someone’s home! All parts of the plant contain a toxin known as wisterin. Pruned correctly, the wisteria will form a beautiful overhead shade canopy. It is a twining vine. American wisteria is a smaller species, growing only two-thirds as long as the Chinese and Japanese species. Also, they have a strong fragrance and can grow very tall. Once the plant reaches the height you want, continuously prune the tips of the plant to stunt further growth. Arguably the most high-maintenance part of caring for Chinese wisteria is its pruning needs. Leaves are 15 to 35 centimeters long, and are feather shaped, much like those of a fern. The native wisteria species, American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) and Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya), are great alternatives to the Asian species, so if you’re planning on adding a new wisteria to your garden, we suggest that you go with one of the North American species. I don't expect any more 27 degree nights. Its flowers are considerably more spectacular, and it requires more sun than Chinese wisteria. Wisteria in bloom – July 8 The flower buds started swelling within days of pruning and the first color appeared soon after. Submitted by Sammi on July 25, 2020 - 12:45pm. Any ideas? We placed decking over a rough shape concrete patio. It needs regular pruning to keep its growth under control and is regarded as an invasive species in many places. Submitted by Jon-Erik on May 29, 2020 - 9:27pm. Chinese wisteria sends out runners that can quickly overwhelm nearby plants and structures. For both species, the dark gray vine has many white dots and may reach a thickness of 10 inches in diameter. I recently rebuilt a sturdy pergola to support a well-established wisteria vine. Cut just below the lowest node (leaf joint), allowing about ¼ inch of stem below the node, and remove any leaves on the lower ⅓ of the stem. But its buds might die in prolonged cold, causing the plant to flower less. Will I seriously damage the vine if I have to cut a few of the roots just below ground level? Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) are non-native, invasive species, so we do not recommend them for North American gardens, despite the fact that they are regularly sold at nurseries and garden centers. The first pruning clears the vine of any unruly shoots that might block sunlight from reaching the blooms. If your soil is in poor condition, add compost; otherwise, wisteria will grow in most soils. Additionally, if the stump and roots of your old wisteria are still in the ground, they’ll be taking up a lot of the real estate that a new wisteria would require to grow properly. Informally grown, mature plants need little or no subsequent pruning. You also can try heavily pruning the plant right after it blooms and again in the winter to encourage more buds. Although its flowers are less showy, American wisteria blooms at a younger age than Chinese or Japanese wisteria. Don’t prune it yet. Many wisteria species prefer lots of sun, but Chinese wisteria can tolerate some shade. Not a soak, just some dampness. I’ve put things on hold waiting for a reply and it’s been four weeks now. These toxins can cause anything from nausea and diarrhea to death if consumed in large amounts. Then, religiously remove any side shoots as they appear, forcing the plant into upward growth. If the tree is quite young, I would think the trunks would be flexible enough. Still all died. Smaller shoots extend from the main vine, and leaves extend alternately in each direction from those stems. The seeds are especially dangerous because they have a high concentration of the toxin. The vine is a vigorous climber that can grow to 25 feet. Wisteria looks lovely climbing up the side of a home, but plant with caution; wisteria vines are very powerful and will find their way into any crack or crevice! Question: I bought a Chinese Wisteria last summer. Not a gardener but loved the blooms and fragrance when the huge vine used to bloom. This is in the front corner of my yard. In fact, if they are considered invasive in your state, you should consider not letting it grow back. Keep in an area that is around 70F and provide bright indirect, not direct, light. Should this only be done at certain times eg September? Consequently, one can not eliminate varieties merely by color alone. What would you recommend? Do you know if this vine is indeed wisteria? We have updated our page to indicate that the native wisterias (Wisteria frutescens and W. macrostachya) have a milder, lighter scent than the Asian types, but they do have a fragrance. Hi, Charlie, David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Submitted by The Editors on July 28, 2020 - 3:16pm. We had a relatively mild winter and early spring, so may have been ahead of schedule for bloom time, usually mid to late spring—a period that could run into June. Identifying Chinese Wisteria . Pea family (Fabaceae) Origin: China Background Chinese wisteria was introduced in 1916 as an ornamental plant. Leaves are compound, about 1 foot long, with 7-13 leaflets on Chinese wisteria and 13-19 on the Japanese variety. At the tip of each shoot is a feather shaped leaf running perpendicular to the other leaves on the stem. I would love to keep them, but am struggling as their root system has taken over my small space and making it difficult to plant anything in the ground. Cut a piece about 4 to 5 inches long, ideally that includes the tip of the shoot, and includes at least 2 sets of leaves. To answer this question, we’d need to know more about the circumstances surrounding the previous wisteria’s death. It was here when I bought the house. They are relentless. Thank you in advance! But perhaps the best method (and one that would allow you to care for the cutting at home) is to take softwood cuttings (young shoots that are starting to harden but haven’t yet become woody) in late spring to midsummer; to do this, select a healthy, young side shoot that is not too tender/soft, and not in bloom, and that has nodes (areas where the buds are located on the stem) close together. Twining vines climb by twisting their stems or leaf stalks around a support. Don’t try and grow wisteria up a pergola, unless it’s very strong, as plants will twist and break weak structures. Then you can separate the rooted sections and pot them up; plant oudoors in the following spring. Like Chinese wisteria, the Japanese species is known to be invasive in North America. Thanks for sharing such great information about planting, growing and caring for wisteria. Two closely related species are Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Wisteria plants are almost impossible to move once settled, so make sure you can provide them with the space and support they require. The fruit is a flattened, velvety bean pod about two to four inches long containing poisonous seeds. It is planted in a pot along a south facing wall. This year, I want to cut back to two or three buds per shoot and leaf … Fertilizer usually is unnecessary for Chinese wisteria unless your soil is deficient in nutrients.