What hardiness zones is Wisteria sinensis suitable for?

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

What are the sun requirements for Wisteria sinensis?

Wisteria sinensis requires Full Sun.

How much water does Wisteria sinensis need?

Wisteria sinensis has Medium water needs.

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Vines & Groundcovers

Wisteria sinensis

Chinese wisteria

FabaceaeChina

At a Glance

TypeVine

HabitClimbing

FoliageDeciduous

Height25-40 feet (7.6-12 m)

Width15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 m)

Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9

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 (strong)

Maintenancehigh

Overview

Wisteria sinensis is a vigorous deciduous woody vine reaching 25-40 feet (7.6-12 m) or more, climbing by twining stems that wind counterclockwise (when viewed from above) around supports. Bark is gray-brown, becoming gnarled and rope-like on mature plants. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 7-13 ovate leaflets, each 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long, medium green, emerging bronze-tinged. Fall color is yellow. Flowers are pea-like, fragrant, in pendant racemes 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long, opening all at once — creating a more dramatic, simultaneous floral display than W. floribunda. Bloom in late April to May, slightly earlier than W. floribunda, before or just as leaves emerge. Species flower color is blue-violet; white ('Alba') cultivars are available. Fragrance is sweet, intense. Fruit is a flattened, velvety, brown legume pod 4-6 inches (10-15 cm). Growth rate is very fast. Introduced to Western cultivation in 1816 by John Reeves, making it the first Asian wisteria in European gardens. Extremely long-lived. Requires a very sturdy support structure. All parts are toxic if ingested. Classified as invasive in parts of the southeastern United States; in the Pacific Northwest, vigorous but less problematic.

Native Range

Native to China. Introduced to Western cultivation in 1816 by John Reeves, a tea inspector for the British East India Company. The first Asian wisteria to reach European gardens.

Suggested Uses

Grown on very sturdy pergolas, arbors, walls, and heavy trellises, spaced 15-20 feet (4.6-6 m) apart. The shorter, more numerous racemes of W. sinensis that open simultaneously create a more dramatic single flush of bloom than W. floribunda. Effective on flat-topped pergolas, stone walls, and heavy masonry structures. Can be trained as a free-standing standard. The gnarled trunk develops into a sculptural feature. All parts toxic — site away from children's areas. For the longest individual racemes, choose W. floribunda 'Macrobotrys' instead.

How to Identify

Identified by pinnately compound leaves with 7-13 leaflets (fewer than W. floribunda), pendant racemes of fragrant pea-like flowers that open all at once, and counterclockwise twining stems. Distinguished from W. floribunda by: fewer leaflets (7-13 vs 11-19), shorter racemes (6-12 vs 12-18+ inches), flowers opening simultaneously (not sequentially from base to tip), blooming slightly earlier (before leaves vs after partial leaf emergence), and counterclockwise (vs clockwise) twining. The twining direction is a reliable field identification character.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height25' - 40'

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 blue-violet pea-like flowers in late April to May, opening all at once for a dramatic simultaneous display lasting 2-3 weeks. Bloom occurs before or just as leaves emerge, creating an unobstructed flower display. Racemes are 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long — shorter than W. floribunda but more numerous and opening simultaneously. Fragrance is sweet and intense. May produce a sparse second flush in late summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue-violet

Foliage Description

Medium green, emerging bronze-tinged

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; avoid excess nitrogen. Requires a very sturdy support structure. Can damage buildings, gutters, downspouts, and railings — keep growth controlled and away from structures not designed to support it. 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, identical to W. floribunda. Summer pruning (July to August): shorten all new whip-like shoots to 6 inches (15 cm) from the main framework. Winter pruning (January to February): further shorten to 2-3 buds. This two-cut system is essential for flowering. Train to a sturdy framework. Remove suckers and unwanted extension growth. Can be trained as a free-standing standard (tree form). Unpruned wisteria becomes an unmanageable, non-flowering mass of vegetative growth.

Pruning Schedule

wintersummer

Maintenance Level

high

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans