Wisteria floribunda

Wisteria floribunda, common name Japanese wisteria (Teng , fuji), is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Japan. It can grow to 9 m (30 feet) and is a twining climber that is woody and deciduous. It was first brought from Japan to the United States in the 1830s. Since then, it has become one of the most highly romanticized flowering garden plants. It is also used in bonsai along with Wisteria Sinensis (Chinese wiseria).

Perhaps the most stunning of all Wisteria genera is the Japanese wisteria’s flowering habits. The Japanese wisteria has the longest flower races of any wisteria, reaching nearly half a meter long. These racemes burst into great trails of clustered white, pink, violet, or blue flowers in early- to mid-spring. The flowers carry a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. In temperate climates, Japanese wisteria’s early flowering can pose problems as early frosts could cause damage to the next years’ flowers. It will also flower only after passing from juvenile to adult stage, a transition that may take many years just like its cousin Chinese wisteria.

Japanese wisteria can grow over 30 metres (98 ft) long over many supports via powerful clockwise-twining stems. The foliage consists of shiny, dark-green, pinnately compound leaves 10-30 centimetres (3.9-11.8 in) in length. The leaves have 9-13 oblong, 2-6 cm (0.79-2.36in) long leaflets. It also bears a variety of poisonous, brown, velvety, and bean-like seed pods that are 5-10 cm (2.0-3.9 inches) in length. These pods mature in the summer and last until winter. Japanese wisteria prefers moist soils and full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9. The plant often lives over 50 years.