Chinese Wisteria

Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is the classic, vigorous deciduous climber that drapes pergolas in spring with long hanging clusters of fragrant lilac-blue flowers. It climbs to 10m or more, twining anticlockwise, and its flowers open all at once before the new leaves, which gives the famous curtain effect. It is a plant for big structures and patient gardeners.

Why you'll love it

• Spectacular spring flowering. Lilac-blue clusters of 20 to 30cm hang in a mass from bare stems in spring, with a sweet fragrance that carries across the garden.
• Cooling summer shade. The deep green leaves create a dense roof over a pergola, then drop in autumn to let winter light through.
• Long lived. A well-trained wisteria can last for decades and gets better with age, with a sculptural twisted trunk.
• Frost hardy. It copes with hard winter frosts and in fact flowers best where winters are properly cold.
• Strong growth. It covers fences, arbours and verandah posts quickly once established.

Where it works best

Pergolas and arbours. Provide heavy timber or steel posts. Plant one vine per post, about 4m apart along a long pergola.

Large walls and verandahs. Train it along strong horizontal wires against masonry, keeping stems away from gutters and roof tiles, which it can lift.

Standard form. A trunk trained up a stout stake can be pruned into a small weeping tree with a head of blossom.

Growing Chinese Wisteria in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun produces the best flowers. It flowers most reliably in cool temperate and warm temperate gardens. In subtropical gardens it grows well but flowers more lightly, and it is not suited to the tropics.

Soil. Any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil suits it. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which makes leaves at the expense of flowers.

Water and feed. Water deeply through its first summers, then lightly once established. A potash-rich fertiliser after flowering encourages bloom.

Pruning. Prune twice a year: cut the long whippy growth back to 5 or 6 buds in midsummer, then shorten the same shoots again to 2 or 3 buds in winter. Plants grown from seed can take several years to flower, and it can sucker and spread if left, so trim regularly. All parts of wisteria are toxic if eaten, especially the seeds and pods, so it is not a plant for gardens where children or pets chew what they find.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chinese Wisteria in 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6, 300mm pots and 400mm and 500mm pots, which are advanced stock with a head start on structure. Smaller sizes need a season or two to establish and plants grown from seed can take several years to flower, so choose the larger sizes for a quicker display. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Wisteria in Australia: growing it, and the native alternative
• Browse climbers
• Plants for cool climates

Common questions

Why has my wisteria not flowered?

Seed-grown plants can take several years, and too much nitrogen, too little sun or missed summer pruning also delay blooms.

How strong a support does it need?

Very strong. Mature stems thicken and can bend flimsy trellis and lift roofing, so use solid posts and wires.

Is it safe for pets?

No. The seeds and pods are toxic, so keep it away from pets and children.