HABITAT: Native to E. Asia, N. America. Zone 4, 7.

USES: Walls, trellises, pergola, bushes, small trees, pots.

HABIT: Vigorous, deciduous (leaf-losing) twining vines which bear before leaves appear (April-May) and during period of leaves unfolding, long racemes of fragrant violet-blue, pea-like flowers. The lacy, fern-like foliage is light green, slightly tinged with bronze. The long, arching, twining branches grow from a heavy, sturdy, central stock to 25-30'.

SEED GERMINATION: Indoors: Sow seed in late winter 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting outdoors in spring. Spread moist grow mix in a shallow container. Sow seeds in shallow rows and cover to their thickness. Place in a cool location, about 55°F night temperature. Keep moist, never allow to dry out. When 4 leaves develop, transplant to 2 1/4 inch pots.

Outdoors: In early spring while soil is cool, sow seeds in rows in a raised protected bed, cover 4 times their thickness. Keep moist, never allow to dry out. Thin or transplant to avoid crowding. Shift to permanent position in early fall.

CULTURE: Pot up or set out in sunny, deep rich moist, but well drained loam with humus (leaf mold, compost, peat moss, etc.) added. Wisteria does not transplant well. Keep cultivated and watered; feed with superphosphate in early spring and leaf mold each fall. Too much nitrogen fertilizer stimulates wood and leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Provide sturdy support and direct branches to prevent crossing and matting. Prune annually to shorten long branches, cutting to within five (5) buds of the base. The plant blooms on spurs so this insures a good flowering season and a trim appearance. Eliminate weak wood. Prune immediately after flowering or in winter. Pinch back tips of young plant's branches for the first few years to keep the plant shaped and to strengthen growth. Quite often the plant will not bloom until it is 7-8 or more years old, if started from seeds.

SPECIES: W. floribunda (Japanese Wisteria): Twisting vine. Zone 4. Japan. Alternate, compound leaves with 13-19 leaflets per leaf. Fragrant. Late May. 8-50" clusters white with cobalt blue. Var. available with pink, white, purple, and blue. Flowers open consecutively from base to tip.
W. x formosa (Formosa Wisteria): Twining vine. Zone 5. White to blue/violet. Late May. Very fragrant. 12" long clusters. W. fruitescens (Formosa Wisteria): Twining vine. Zone 5. Lilac. 2-4 1/2" clusters. Virginia, Florida, Texas. June. W. japonica (Nippon Wisteria): Twining vine. White. 6-12" clusters. W. mackostachys (Kentucky Wisteria): Twining vine. Zone 5. Lilac. 10" clusters. June after leaves. Missouri, Tennessee, Texas. W. sinenses (Chinese Wisteria): Twisting vine. Zone 5. Blue-violet. Slightly fragrant. 7-12" clusters. Late May.

INSECTS: Beetles, Caterpillars: Use an approved insecticide such as Sevin for control. Mealy Bugs, Leaf Hopper, Scale, Weevil: Use an approved insecticide such as Malathion or Diazinon for control.

DISEASES: Canker, Gall: Remove infected parts.

Leaf Spots: Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Ferbam or Zineb for control.
Mosaic Virus: Remove and destroy infected plants.
Mildew: Use an approved fungicide such as Benlate for control.

PROPAGATION: Grafting, layering, cuttings, seeds.