Wisteria floribunda

Wisteria floribunda (commonly known as Japanese wisteria) is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to Japan and is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its twisting stems and masses of scented flowers in hanging racemes, in shades of purple, violet, pink or white.

Description

Wisteria floribunda is a deciduous climber that can grow over 10 m high or spread over the ground with twisted stems. The leaves are pinnate, with 13-19 leaflets. The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 10-80 cm long, similar to those of the genus Laburnum, but are purple, violet, pink or white. There is a yellow cultivar, 'Aurea', presumably derived from the white-flowered 'Alba'.

Cultivation

Wisteria floribunda is a hardy climber that prefers full sun and a fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It is normally grown against a wall, fence or over a pergola or arch. It can be propagated from hardwood cuttings in winter or from softwood cuttings in early summer.

Uses

Wisteria floribunda is widely cultivated for its attractive growth habit and abundant, fragrant flowers. It is also used in bonsai and is a common subject for Chinese painting and Japanese painting.

Cultivars

Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Alba' (white flowers), 'Rosea' (pink flowers), and 'Violacea Plena' (double violet flowers). 'Longissima' (syn. 'Macrobotrys') is a floriferous cultivar with unusually long racemes of flowers that can reach 1 m in length.

See also

• Wisteria
• Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria)
• Wisteria brachybotrys (Silky wisteria)

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