Hard to think that so much beauty can be harmful. But that happens with wisteria , a plant with beautiful flowers that fall in droves but very toxic at the same time.
Perhaps the best-known wisteria landscape is the famous Wisteria Tunnel , a wisteria-covered tunnel that looks out into Kawachi Fuji Gardens in the Japanese city of Kitakyushu. The wisterias have wrapped around the structure and thus have formed a marvelous multicolored tunnel that blooms between the end of April and the middle of May, when the flowers give a unique spectacle.
More than 150 Wisteria plants of 20 species coexist in the place and the grace of the hanging flowers transforms the tunnel into a dreamlike passageway.
Plant
Wisteria is native to China, Japan and North America and is a plant that belongs to the legume family . Its scientific name is Wisteria, a tribute to the American doctor Gaspar Wistar. There are many species of wisteria and among the best known are wisteria sinensis, wisteria floribunda, wisteria venusta, wisteria caroline and wisteria alba.
The standard wisteria has a thick, woody but twisted trunk. It is barely visible when the plant blooms as its hanging flowers form beautiful drooping clusters. The flowers are scented and can be white, violet or lilac depending on the variety.
Wisteria is poisonous , especially the seeds and pods, so be careful if there are children or pets at home, keeping them out of their reach.
Ornamental plant
Wisteria is a visually exquisite plant and is therefore widely used for ornamental purposes . On the contrary, it is not a very practical plant as it attracts insects, especially bees. In general, it is used on pergolas, fences and walls because it is a climber.
As for its care, it is necessary that it grows in a semi-shaded place since it does not tolerate direct exposure. On the other hand, it needs regular watering from spring to summer.
The best for her is a soil rich in organic matter and with good drainage . Better if it is deep and extensive because it is a plant that needs space to spread.
Although it tolerates frost, it is best to take care of it. In addition, it is advisable to give it a fertilizer at the end of winter to improve flowering. Pruning should be at the end of autumn or at the beginning of spring, that is, at the end of flowering, in order to help its growth. In addition, it will be necessary to remove the flowers that wither in spring and summer in order to direct the energy of the plant towards the developing areas.
Wisteria is a very attractive ornamental plant as it has dangling flowers of vibrant colors but it is a toxic plant.
