Japanese Wisteria - 'Wisteria floribunda' Wisteria floribunda is a rapid growing woody vine that has long pendulous, pale lavender blue blossoms. It is a deciduous vine that comes in the additional colors (such as Ivory Tower (white) and Rosea (pink) to name a few). Wisteria produces a tantalizing fragrance that attracts bees and butterflies. It does not necessarily need good soil to grow and remains pH adaptable. Wisteria flowers in Early Spring. Wisteria is nearly unstoppable in the South.
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| Common Name: |
Japanese Wisteria, Wisteria |
| Popular Varieties: |
Alba, Issai, Ivory Tower, Kyushaku, Lawrence, Longissima Alba, Macrobotrys, Murasaki Noda, rose, Royal Purple, Texas Purple, Violacea Plena |
| Type: |
Woody Vine |
| Family: |
Fabaceae |
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun |
| Leaves: |
Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and rounded at base. Leaves are bright green, usually late to leaf out with no fall color of any consequence. New growth is often bronze or purplish. |
| Size: |
30' or more, essentially limited by structure on which it is allowed to grow; have seen plants 40 to 50' high on trees. |
| Hardiness: |
Zone 4 to 9. For an idea of your plant zone please visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. |
| Habit: |
Stout vine, climbing by twining stems which turn clockwise developing twisted woody trunk several inches in diameter and requiring considerable support. |
| Rate: |
Fast, as is true with most vines; will grow 10' or more, especially in south in, in a single season once established. |
| Flowers: |
Perfect, violet or violet-blue, on old wood on short leafy shoots, each flower .5 to .75" long, slightly fragrant. Borne in slender 8 to 20" long racemes from April-May. |
| Diseases & Insects: |
Crown gall, leaf spots, stem canker, powdery mildew, root rot, tobacco mosaic virus, sweet potato leaf beetle, Japanes mealybug, citrus flata planthopper, fall webworm, black vine weevil and scale. |
| Known Varieties: |
Well-known Wisteria floribunda varieties are listed below...
- Wisteria floribunda 'Ivory Tower' - white flowers, abundantly produced, heady frangrance
- Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea' - pale rose, tipped purple, excellent fragrance, in long racemes to about 18"
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| Landscape Value: |
Excellent flowering vine, nice over patios, on large structures, or trained into a tree form; needs ample support and metal pipe is recommended for it will actually crush wood supports with time; not the easiest plant to keep flowering and cultural practices must be fairly precise. |
| Soil Preference: |
Prefers deep, moist, well-drained loam and is pH adaptable. |
| Care: |
Cut back vigorous growth leaving only 3 to 4 buds, plant in full sun and use named cultivars rather than seedling grown material. |
| Fertilization: |
Use nitrogen fertilizer sparingly. Use superphosphate, root prune to encourage flowering.
| | Planting Instructions: |
Dig a hole about 8 to 12 inches in diameter, with a depth no deeper than the original soil line on the stem. Break up the soil to the finest consistency possible. Place plant in hole and fill, compacting the fill dirt. Water the plant heavily to seal soil around the roots and remove air pockets. Plant one plant for ever 2 linear feet. The larger the plant the faster the area will fill in.
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