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Wisteria sinensis

Chinese wisteria

© RHS
Sold by 32 nurseries

  • Other common names Chinese wisteria
    Chinese kidney bean

  • Family Fabaceae

  • 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

  • Details W. sinensis is a large deciduous climber with twining stems, dark green, pinnate leaves and drooping racemes to 30cm in length, of fragrant, mauve or lilac-coloured flowers opening before the leaves

  • Plant range China

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Climbing

  • Fragrance Flower

  • Toxicity All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Sand, Clay, Loam

  • pHAcid, Neutral, Alkaline

Size

  • Ultimate height Higher than 12 metres

  • Ultimate spread wider than 8 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation A large, long-lived climber so choosing the right site is important. Can be grown informally through large tree or more formally against a house wall or trained as a free-standing half standard in a container. Will grow in most soils that are moist but well-drained. Further wisteria cultivation advice

Propagation Propagate by layering, softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types Wall-side Borders

How to care

Pruning Pruning wisteria

Pests Can get scale insects

Diseases May be affected by a leaf spot and powdery mildews

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