Wisteria sinensis

Description: Though there are many varieties of Wisteria available this species remains a popular favourite.

Vigorous growing with fragrant mauve or deep lilac flowers carried in long racemes. The flowers are produced long before the foliage making them extra showy and spectacular on a large established and well trained specimen. Check pruning to ensure best results.

Canalso be grown through a large tree where pruning is not required.

Climate/Position: Full sun or light, dappled shade

Height/Spread: 18 - 30 metres

Soil Requirements: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Pruning: (RHS guidance for double pruning)Summer pruning (July or August) - Cut back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves after flowering.

This controls the size of the wisteria, preventing it getting into guttering and windows, and encourages it to form flower buds rather than green growth.

Winter pruning (January or February)

Then, cut back the same growths to two or three buds in January or February (when the plant is dormant and leafless) to tidy it up before the growing season starts and ensure the flowers will not be obscured by leaves

Special Requirements: To ensure a good framework is developed, after planting prune back the leading shoot to 90cm above the ground and tie in the new shoots to required frame as they develop.

First introduced from a garden in Canton in 1816

The stems of Chinese Wisteria twine anti clockwise