Consulta Plantas

Care of the plant Wisteria sinensis or Chinese wisteria

The genus Wisteria, family Fabaceae, includes 7 species of climbing shrubs native to China, Korea, Japan, and North America. Some species are: Wisteria sinensis, Wisteria floribunda, Wisteria frutescens, Wisteria venusta.

Common names: Chinese wisteria, Chinese kidney bean. This species is native to China.

They are deciduous woody climbing plants with a twisted trunk that reach 15 meters (49.2 feet) in height. The odd-pinnate leaves have light green ovate-lanceolate leaflets. The scented flowers appear in attractive, dense hanging clusters up to 30 cm in length and can be mauve, blue, white, pink or purple, depending on the variety; the flowers appear before the leaves. They bloom in spring.

Chinese wisteria is used to cover walls, pergolas and fences. Do not use it to cover the facades of houses because strong branches can tear off pipes, pavements, gates, etc. In England it's grown in the form of a tree for the decoration of meadows. It's ideal for bonsai.

Wisteria sinensis needs full sun or semi-shade exposure. It has good resistance to frost.

Chinese kidney bean grows well in normal garden soil that contains organic matter but prefers it to be a little loamy.

Water regularly in spring and summer so that the substrate does not dry out completely. Reduce watering in autumn and winter; they do not withstand drought.

Fertilize in winter with manure or compost.

It's important to prune, in early winter, the branches that have not flowered and trim the tender shoots in late summer.

In summer Wisteria sinensis can be attacked by aphids and mites especially if it suffers from drought.

Chinese wisteria is propagated by cuttings and by layering in summer.

Images of the plant Wisteria sinensis or Chinese wisteria