Wisteria floribunda

PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub Course Home Week 10

Wisteria floribunda - Wisteria

Plant Viewer


Wisteria will vigorously climb objects by twining around them. The main stems can become thick like a tree trunk.	Very fragrant and long hanging racemes of purple blossoms make this vine a favorite for use on landscape structures. Image: Wikimedia.org

The leaves are odd pinnately compound with each leaflet being ovate in shape, tapering to a point.	By the end of summer, pea-pod seeds capsules form on the vine.

Plant Description

Wisteria floribunda, or Wisteria Vine, is a large and vigorous climbing vine capable of growing up to 40 feet long. It will twine itself clockwise around structures in order to climb and can be heavy enough that a structure needs to be sturdy enough or risk collapse. The main stems of Wisteria can grow to be several inches in diameter and with a supporting structure it can be trained to grow in to a tree. It is very hardy and can deal with any number of soil and moisture conditions, though it can take it a couple years to get fully established.

The leaf is alternate pinnately compound and bright green in color. The leaf grows about a foot long and can have up to 19 leaflets on each leaf. Each leaflet is ovate in shape with smooth margins. When the leaves first emerge they are very pubescent.

During late spring or early summer, large hanging racemes of purple blossoms appear. On a mature fine the blossoms will cover a vine and are extremely showy and fragrant. Few thing compare to sitting under an arbor with a Wisteria vine in full-bloom overhead. Wisteria typically does not flower until the vine is 4 or 5 years old. Four inch pea pods form on the plant in the summer and turn brown by fall. They persist into the winter.

Landscape Use

Use as a climbing vine on structures or supported along walls. It is most commonly used on arbors, pergolas or pavilions where people are able to enjoy both visual and olfactory impact of the blossoms.

Points of Interest