What hardiness zones is Wisteria floribunda suitable for?

Wisteria floribunda is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Wisteria floribunda?

Wisteria floribunda requires Full Sun.

How much water does Wisteria floribunda need?

Wisteria floribunda has Medium water needs.

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Vines & Groundcovers

Wisteria floribunda

Japanese wisteria

FabaceaeJapan

At a Glance

TypeVine

HabitClimbing

FoliageDeciduous

Height25-35 feet (7.6-10.7 m)

Width15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 m)

Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 9

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Fragrant (moderate)

Maintenancehigh

Overview

Wisteria floribunda is a vigorous deciduous woody vine reaching 25-35 feet (7.6-10.7 m) or more, climbing by twining stems that wind clockwise (when viewed from above) around supports. Bark is gray-brown, becoming gnarled and rope-like on mature plants. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 11-19 ovate leaflets, each 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, medium green. Fall color is yellow, not a strong feature. Flowers are pea-like (papilionaceous), fragrant, in pendant racemes that open gradually from base to tip — this sequential opening is the key distinction from W. sinensis. Racemes are 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) long on typical plants; the cultivar 'Macrobotrys' (syn. 'Multijuga') produces racemes up to 3 feet (90 cm) long. Species flower color is violet-blue; cultivars include white ('Alba'), pink ('Rosea'), and deep purple. Bloom in May, slightly later than W. sinensis, after leaves have partially emerged. Fragrance is sweet, grape-like. Fruit is a flattened, velvety, brown legume pod 4-6 inches (10-15 cm). Growth rate is very fast. Extremely long-lived — specimens 100+ years old are known. Requires a very sturdy support structure. All parts are toxic if ingested. Both Wisteria species are classified as invasive in parts of the eastern United States; in the Pacific Northwest, they are vigorous but less problematic due to climate.

Native Range

Native to Japan. Introduced to Western cultivation in the 1830s. Named for its profuse flowering ('floribunda' = many-flowered).

Suggested Uses

Grown on very sturdy pergolas, arbors, walls, and heavy trellises where the pendant flower racemes can hang freely, spaced 15-20 feet (4.6-6 m) apart. The longer racemes of W. floribunda are best displayed on flat-topped pergolas or overhead structures that allow the flowers to cascade. Can be trained as a free-standing standard (tree form) by staking a single stem. The gnarled trunk and branches develop into a sculptural feature with age. All parts toxic — site away from areas where children may access seed pods. For the longest racemes, select 'Macrobotrys' ('Multijuga').

How to Identify

Identified by pinnately compound leaves with 11-19 leaflets (more than W. sinensis), long pendant racemes of fragrant pea-like flowers that open gradually from base to tip, and clockwise twining stems. Distinguished from W. sinensis by: more leaflets (11-19 vs 7-13), longer racemes (12-18+ vs 6-12 inches), flowers opening sequentially base-to-tip (not all at once), blooming slightly later (after partial leaf emergence vs before leaves), and clockwise (vs counterclockwise) twining.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height25' - 35'

Width/Spread15' - 25'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

purple

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Pendant racemes of fragrant violet-blue pea-like flowers in May, opening gradually from base to tip over 2-3 weeks. Bloom occurs slightly later than W. sinensis, after leaves have partially emerged. Raceme length varies: 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) on typical plants, up to 3 feet (90 cm) on 'Macrobotrys'. Fragrance is sweet and grape-like. Seed-grown plants may take 10-15 years to bloom; graft-grown plants bloom in 3-5 years.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Violet-blue

Foliage Description

Medium green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamclay

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years (grafted); 10-15 years (seedling)

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Water regularly during the first growing season. Established plants are drought-tolerant. Plant in full sun — essential for maximum flowering. Tolerates a wide range of soils, but avoid highly fertile conditions and excess nitrogen, which promotes vegetative growth at the expense of flowering. Requires a very sturdy support structure (steel, heavy timber, masonry) — wisteria will crush flimsy trellises and can damage gutters, railings, and wood structures. Root pruning and phosphorus fertilizer can promote flowering on reluctant plants. All parts are toxic if ingested, especially seeds.

Pruning

Requires disciplined pruning twice per year. Summer pruning (July to August): shorten all new whip-like shoots to 6 inches (15 cm) from the main framework — this concentrates energy into flower bud formation. Winter pruning (January to February): further shorten the same shoots to 2-3 buds from the main framework. This two-cut system is essential for maximum flowering. Train to a sturdy support structure. Remove suckers and any growth extending beyond the desired framework. Wisteria left unpruned becomes a massive, tangled, non-flowering mess.

Pruning Schedule

wintersummer

Maintenance Level

high

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans