Japanese Wisteria
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Vines can grow to 30' or more long, overall height limited by supporting structure. Fast growth rate, as is true with most vines, will grow 10' or more in a single season once established.

Native Range

Japan. Introduced 1830.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers violet or violet-blue, slightly fragrant, on short leafy shoots of old wood, each flower 0.5-0.75" long, on a 0.5-1" long pedicel, borne in slender, 8-20" long racemes, opening from base to apex, flowers occasionally on new growth, April to May. Fruits are brown pods, 4-6" long, velutinous, in October persisting into winter.

Leaf and Bark Features

No fall color of consequence. Bark on old trunks a grayish color, smooth and sometimes irregularly fluted.

Culture and Care

Hard to transplant, slow to establish. Plant in deep, moist, well-drained loam, pH adaptable but does better at higher pH, full sun. Excessive nitrogen use promotes excess vegetative growth. Cut back vigorous growth in winter leaving only 3-4 buds. Susceptible to crown gall, leaf spots, stem canker, powdery mildew, root rot, tobacco mosaic virus, sweet potato leaf beetle, Japanese mealybug, citrus flata planthopper, fall webworm, black vine weevil and scale.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Not the easiest plant to keep flowering, cultural practices must be fairly precise.

Suggested Uses

An excellent flowering vine, nice for covering over patios, on large structures. Can also be trained into a tree form, however, it needs ample support and metal pipe is recommended.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA