- Mature height
- 6m to 10m+ (with support)
- Mature width
- 4m to 8m depending on structure and pruning
Wisteria sinensis, the Chinese Wisteria, is a deciduous twining climber in the pea family, grown for the long pendulous racemes of scented purple to lilac flowers it carries in spring. The blooms open before the feathery pinnate foliage fills out, so the display hangs clear against bare, woody stems.
Give it full sun for the heaviest flowering and a deep, well drained soil kept moist through the first two summers. It is frost hardy and takes heavy, repeated frost without damage, suiting cool and temperate districts from Tasmania to Adelaide and the tablelands. Growth runs 1 to 2 metres a year, so annual pruning is not optional.
Most buyers use it on pergolas, carports, archways and heavy fence lines where a seasonal ceiling of flower is wanted overhead. It needs a structure built to carry real weight, since mature stems thicken into timber. Plant it away from downpipes, eaves and paving and it will hold a space for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Chinese Wisteria
What is Chinese Wisteria?
Wisteria sinensis is a deciduous woody climber from China, grown in Australia for its spring flower display. It twines anticlockwise up posts, wires and pergola beams, building a permanent trunk over time. Racemes of fragrant purple to lilac flowers hang 20 to 30 centimetres long, opening ahead of the soft pinnate leaves.
How big does Chinese Wisteria grow?
Trained on a pergola or wall it will cover 4 to 8 metres of structure and can push further if left alone, because the vine keeps extending as long as it has something to climb. Height is set by the frame you give it rather than by the plant. Most garden situations are kept to 3 to 6 metres.
When does Chinese Wisteria flower?
Spring, roughly September to November depending on where you are. Warmer coastal gardens colour up in early September, while cool tablelands and Tasmania usually run into October and November. Flowers open on short spurs off older wood before the foliage thickens, which is why winter pruning back to those spurs matters so much.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun. It will survive in part shade and still put on leaf growth, but flowering drops away sharply and you end up with a large green climber and little else. Give it at least six hours of direct sun a day, with the flowering wood exposed rather than buried under a canopy.
Is Chinese Wisteria frost tolerant?
Yes. It is frost hardy and survives heavy, frequent frost without damage, which is one reason it does so well in Canberra, the Southern Highlands, Ballarat and Tasmania. The plant is bare through winter anyway, so cold has little to work on. Late frost can occasionally brown open flowers, though the vine itself is unaffected.
Does Chinese Wisteria have invasive roots?
The root system is strong and searching rather than aggressively destructive, but it is best kept clear of drains, septic lines and shallow paving. The bigger issue is above ground, where thickening stems can lift roof sheeting and crush gutters and lattice. Plant it a couple of metres off the house and give it solid steel or hardwood support.
How do I prune and care for Chinese Wisteria?
Prune twice a year. In late summer cut the whippy new growth back to about five or six leaves, then in winter shorten those same shoots to two or three buds to build flowering spurs. Water deeply through the first two summers. Keep nitrogen fertiliser low, since it drives leaf at the expense of flower.
