Wisteria sinensis
Chinese Wisteria

 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Purple (Showy blue-violet fragrant pea-like flowers in May )
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Green, pinnately compound foliage in the summer); Yellow (Fall color not reliable)
 Fruit Notes:
Brown (Velvety pubescent pods; not ornamentally important)
 Ultimate Height:
30-40 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
40+ feet
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to different soils
 Range:
China
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with 7-13 leaflets. Flowers are on 6-12" long racemes from lateral spurs and are more blue-violet than Wisteria floribunda, but less fragrant.
 Ecological Functions:

Additional Information

Tolerant of widely different conditions once established, but this plant does not like being transplanted and establishment is sometimes slow. Once established, though, can even become invasive. Can be pruned as a standard, or pruned nearly to the ground to rejuvenate. Prune after flowering to 6" of main branch, and if pruned later, avoid removing the fatter flower buds that develop later. Needs a strong support structure. Use plants propagated vegetatively from heavy-flowering clones, as much variation exists in flowering. May take 7 years to flower.

When Wisteria sinensis has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
No Fruiting Observations Available

Other plants like this Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria)

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
© 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us