Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'
Chinese wisteria 'Prolific'
'Prolific' is a vigorous, nitrogen-fixing deciduous climber up to 9m high with stems twining anticlockwise, pinnate leaves of 9-13 elliptic or ovate leaflets, and many very fragrant, soft blue-violet flowers in dense, hanging racemes 25-30cm long in late spring and early summer, often followed by bean-like seed pods; it often flowers from a young age, and the flowers are visited by bees in bright or warm weather
Synonyms
Wisteria sinensis 'Cooke's Special'Wisteria sinensis 'Blue Sapphire'
see moreWisteria floribunda 'Blue Sapphire'
Wisteria sinensis 'Consequa'
Wisteria sinensis 'Sierra Madre'
Wisteria 'Consequa'
Wisteria sinensis 'Augusta Pride'
Wisteria sinensis 'Oosthoek's Variety'
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
Wider than 8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Brown | Purple Blue | Green | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Brown | Purple Blue | Green | Green |
| Autumn | Green Brown | Yellow Green | Green | |
| Winter | Green Brown |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Climbing
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
- Genus
Wisteria are vigorous woody climbers with twining stems bearing pinnate leaves and long pendulous racemes of fragrant pea-like flowers in spring and early summer
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow informally into a large strong deciduous tree, or formally against a wall with support such as wires, over an arch or pergola, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See wisteria cultivation for more advice
Propagation
Propagate by basal softwood cuttings from sideshoots from early summer to midsummer and rooted with bottom heat, by layering in autumn, or by grafting in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Prune twice a year for best results, see pruning wisteria for detailed advice
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, and scale insects including wisteria scale
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, coral spot, fungal leaf spot, virus diseases, and powdery mildews
Get involved
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