Chinese wisteria (scientific name, Wisteria sinensis) is a deciduous perennial vine with a twining growth habit. The flowers range in colour from white through pink to shades of blue and appear at the same time as the leaves begin to develop. Pea family (Fabaceae) Origin: China Background Chinese wisteria was introduced in 1916 as an ornamental plant. Chinese Wisteria Wisteria sinensis is Naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas. It blooms earlier in spring than Chinese wisteria making it more vulnerable to early freeze which can stunt the flowers. Wisteria floribunda flowers in May and June with clusters of flowers reaching up to 46cm (18ins) in length. American wisteria blooms later, from June to August, so its blossoms are less prone to being killed by a late frost. It also occurs throughout nearly every state in the eastern half of the U.S. In areas where it is grown over a structure, prune it hard annually after flowering to keep the vine in check. It is a deciduous vine that may grow up to 30 feet (9 m.). Most wisteria sold in nurseries are grafted forms, so they shortcut this maturation period. If you get lucky enough to find the plant, choose a nutrient rich, moist location of the garden. The plant's name is sometimes spelled wisataria, in keeping with the anatomist Casper Wistar, from whom the plant takes its name. Consequently, one can not eliminate varieties merely by color alone. I've read about both varieties, the Chinese and the American, but I'm not sure which is better. The blooms begin revealing themselves at the top of the cluster then make their way to the tip as the leaves are still developing. This is because native plants are uniquely adapted to the region and require less specialized care. The racemes of Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) are slightly larger and appear a little later in spring, with the expanding foliage. Can be trained as a small tree. It is a friendly local vine with gregarious blue flowered charm and might be perfect in your garden. Wisteria sinensis (Sims) A.P. (Native American wisteria blooms in the summer.) – American wisteria Subordinate Taxa. The stems of Chinese wisteria twine counterclockwise. The easiest way to identify American wisteria is by the blooms. American wisteria can be found throughout the southeastern states. Kentucky wisteria ( Wisteria macrostachya) is found in the south-central United States. So I'm going to plant some wisteria this year. It is a more controlled plant than the Chinese version and has added seasonal interest with its velvet pods. American wisteria is not troubled by any significant diseases or insects. Because of this rapid growth and dense shade, native canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs can be smothered or … The plant requires consistent moisture, especially in summer. In areas where it is native, some local nurseries have the plant in cultivation. This plant has no children Legal Status. American wisteria can be found throughout the southeastern states. Chinese Wisteria . Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. If grown from seed, Chinese or Japanese wisteria can take a long time to mature before ever producing flowers - as much as 10-15 years!! While Asian species have elongated blossoms with loose dripping petals, the blooms of American wisteria are shorter, rounder, and more compact (rather pinecone shaped). They also won’t harm the wild flora if they happen to escape cultivation. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Chinese Wisteria. American wisteria is very similar to Kentucky wisteria ( Wisteria macrostachya ) which has been considered a variety of W. frutescens but grows somewhat differently and has a fragrance. Wistaria frutescens) is a woody vine that produces beautiful hanging clusters of purple flowers. In fact, it is an important host plant for the silver-spotted skipper and long tailed skipper butterflies. • According to American wisteria information, the seeds in the pods are quite toxic and can lead to extreme nausea and vomiting. The American wisteria is obviously native to the United States, as the name suggests and is a highly popular choice among a majority of the northern gardeners who wish to grow a wisteria vine. Neutral: On Jun 25, 2006, Junebug62 from Swansea, SC wrote: This vine has to be pruned not only on top but also at the roots, it will send feeder roots up to forty feet from the original roots. Flowers in April-May before leaves emerge. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens; syn. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. After drying, they pop with a startling loud noise. Commit this name to memory and look for it on plant tags: Wisteria frutescens, commonly called American wisteria.This species is native to the eastern U.S., and it’s hardy in Zones 4-9, meaning it'll grow in most areas of the country.American wisteria can reach dazzling heights of up to 30 feet, and spreads up to 8 feet wide. It's more cold-hardy than the Asian types and suited to USDA Zones 3-9. Adding to its adaptability, it can also tolerate a range of soil types. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is suggested as a Florida-friendly alternative. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Problems with the Chinese Wisteria. Click on a place name to get a … SKU. Common names are from state and federal lists. Full to partial sun. It is best grown in slightly acidic, humusy, moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. A trellis, arbor or even a fence are ideal locations to display the dainty leaves and dangling blooms. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. de Cand. Using native plants in the garden is a smart choice. American wisteria occurs naturally in Florida only in the panhandle and a few scattered counties in north Florida. The Chinese seems to be more vigorous, and I'd like a fast-growing cover. Pruning is still a crucial part of American wisteria care. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The other commonly planted species all originate from Asia and can be quite invasive. Vines of Chinese wisteria grow in a counter-clockwise direction (as do those of our native wisteria). Chinese wisteria grows so rapidly that it covers plants, shading out others and even killing trees.Wisteria is a perennial vine with wonderfully fragrant flowers, often lavender, that grow in clusters, similar to grapes. Sign up for our newsletter. The flowers of American Wisteria are slightly smaller. Japanese wisteria is popular for its huge blooms reaching twenty inches long. While the flowers of American wisteria are less aromatic than Asian wisteria, they’re just as beautiful! The pods of the Asian wisterias have velvety surfaces covered with a downy fuzz while the pods of native wisteria are smooth. It primarily occurs in bottomlands in moist areas such as swamps, along rivers, and in flood plains. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Wisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae (Leguminosae), that includes ten species of woody climbing bines (twining vines) that are native to China, Korea, Japan, and the Eastern United States.Some species are popular ornamental plants. Also look at the seedpods. While still an aggressive plant, American wisteria grows only two-thirds as tall as its Asian cousins, and its racemes, or pendulous blossoms, are half as long, rounded and more compact—resembling bunches of grapes. Average Size at Maturity. Be the first to review this product. Wisteria is a magical vine that provides a cascade of beautiful lilac-blue blooms and lacy foliage. If they turn counterclockwise, you are growing Chinese wisteria or one of the American varieties. Chinese Wisteria/Japanese Wisteria Destroys Native Wildlife Habitats This vine grows very rapidly, reaching up to 70 feet with 15 inch trunks. A quick search indicates that this plant is not widely available, but it can be ordered online. Cloudflare Ray ID: 6075e5f32b2be7f5 Fast grower with stems to 25 feet or longer. What is American wisteria? This rambling beauty has delicate pinnate leaves divided into 9 to 15 leaflets. Wisteria But the wisteria common throughout the Southeast is actually an invasive from China. This plant has some cultivated varieties. While Kentucky wisteria was originally regarded as a sub-species of American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), it has since been classified as a separate species due to its longer blooms and because it has a higher cold hardiness rating than American wisteria. Japanese wisteria always grows clockwise. This plant, Wisteria frutescens, twins up into trees to the relatively modest height of only 25 feet, making it a lot more manageable in gardens than its Chinese cousin. It will bloom in either full sun or partial shade. Native American wisteria has a shorter maturation period but expect at least 5-7 years before these start producing. Guide to growing japanese wisteria, american wisteria, and chinese wisteria and kidney bean wisteria is a genus of hardy perennial climbing plants able to reach heights of over 9 metresthey have compound leaves, and bloom from the end of spring through to the first months of summer, carrying fragrant flowers in racemes reminiscent of those of peas these may be pink, purplish-blue, or white. The flowers are pea-like and hang in decorative pendant clusters, usually blue or violet, but occasionally creamy white. Leaves are compound, about 1 foot long, with 7-13 leaflets on Chinese wisteria and 13-19 on the Japanese variety. • A far less invasive alternative to the Asian wisterias that is easier to control: American wisteria, Wisteria flutescens is a woody, deciduous climber native to low-lying areas of the southeastern United States. Read on for some tips on how to grow American wisteria and enjoy this North American native in your landscape. American wisteria is less invasive than either the Japanese or Chinese varieties and bears its flowers in short clusters up to six inches long. Deciduous. Sierra Madre, California, holds an annual \"Wistaria Festival\" every March, during … ... can be found the American Wisteria. Twining stems quickly reach 8 … Be cautious when planting it where curious animals or children play. Flowering. Perfect for covering patios, arbors or fences. There are two main species of Wisteria; W. floribunda or Japanese Wisteria and W. sinensis or Chinese Wisteria. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. Flowers are usually purple, but dark purple, pink and white cultivars have been developed. American Wisteria is often chosen over the more common Chinese Wisteria because it is easier to control and tends to not smother out other trees and shrubs. A support structure is required for growing American wisteria. Most wisteria vines sold today are of the Asian variety. It also blooms later than they do—in May or June, depending where you live—so the blooms are seldom zapped by a late frost. Amethyst Falls American Wisteria Frutescens Vine Live Plant by Wellspring Gardens. Japanese wisteria vines grow clockwise. After blooming, wisteria produces large seedpods with a velvety capsule. It has the same hanging clusters of rich blue flowers. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) blooms the earliest, usually before the leaves emerge. And, to set the record straight, there is a difference between Kentucky wisteria and American wisteria. The branches and stems of Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria) and Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) twine in a counterclockwise direction, while Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria) twines clockwise. Though it is not as fragrant as Asian wisterias, it is easier to control because it doesn’t send out long root suckers. It needs regular pruning to keep its growth under control and is regarded as an invasive species in many places. It grows to a height of 10 to 30 feet and mainly grown in regions of the East Coast and the Carolinas. 7685. It is a good alternate to the Japanese and Chinese wisterias that have become invasive in some areas. As a cultivated plant, it is suitable in United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9. Both Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria) and Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) twine in a counterclockwise direction but Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria) twines clockwise. 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Its most redeeming feature is the fact that it is much less invasive than its Asian counterparts, especially the beautiful but ruthless Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). The most commonly grown ornamental variety is Chinese wisteria, which while lovely, can be invasive. It primarily occurs in bottomlands in moist areas such as swamps, along rivers, and in flood plains. Chinese Wisteria. 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. A better choice is its cousin the American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Wisteria sinensis. Threatened and Endangered Information: This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. This species is native to North America. Growing American wisteria as an alternative still offers the elegant blooms and foliage but in a native, non-invasive form. 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