Japanese Wisteria

Wisteria floribunda

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

▲▼ old wisteria vine climbing elm tree in Monroe, LA (tree trunk is over 2 foot diameter)

▲▼ Vine trained to tree form

▲▼ flowers

Location on/near campus:  on Maryland St., off Loren, south of campus

Wisteria floribunda: Japanese Wisteria

·         vine with deciduous, alternate, pinnately compound, light-green leaves with 7-13 leaflets (usually 11)

·         leaflets are 2-3" long, ovate with entire margins

·         violet, fragrant flowers borne in 8-20" long hanging racemes on previous season=s growth in early spring; often flowers open from base of cluster toward tip

·         vine climbs by twining (clockwise) (compared to Wisteria sinensis twining counterclockwise)

·         prefers full sun to part shade, moist, well-drained soil, slightly higher pH

·         prune heavily after flowering and sparingly through growing season to direct growth and maintain many flower buds for next spring

·         train over trellis or stake and prune heavily to train to tree shape

·         avoid overfertilizing which produces too much vine and few flowers; can be rampant and weedy if not regularly pruned

·         fast growth rate