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