Wisteria

The wisteria sinensisbetter known as Wisteria or Flower of the Feather, is a climbing shrub of feasy culture and that reaches great dimensions. It can grow to a height of 15 meters. The lilac or white flowers appear in hanging inflorescences, giving a spectacular touch to the gardens.

In gardening it is one of those plants most used to cover pergolas or walls. Something that is not surprising then, Who can resist the beauty of its flowers?

wisteria sinensis alba

Native to China and Japan, it has foliage that behaves like deciduous, that is, it loses its leaves in winter. He does not dress in autumnal colors, but in return has a flowering period that lasts for several months and that begins in spring. It has a rapid growth, and its life expectancy is very similar to ours: it can live 100 years.

It is a climber that, unlike ivy (Ivy helix) needs supports to be able to climb without difficulty. Otherwise, all branches will either hang down, or grow to ground level. It can be attached with wires to the surface where we want it to climb, especially if the plant is young.

wisteria sinensis

The care you need are the following:

  • Location: full sun, it will not be able to develop properly if it is in semi-shade.
  • Mild weather. In hot climates it can live, but there is a risk that it will have a bad time in summer due to high temperatures and dry wind.
  • Soil: prefers acidic soils, with a pH between 4 and 6. In calcareous soils it is common to have iron chlorosis, which can be corrected by adding iron sulfate to the soil, irrigating with acidic water and fertilizing with a specific fertilizer for plants acid following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Pruning: it is important if we want to control its growth. This can be done towards the end of winter, before bud break.

It is very important to know that both the seeds and the pods are poisonous.

And finally…: Did you know that you can have it in a pot or even as a bonsai? Interesting, right? This means that, even if you don’t have a large garden, you can still have this beautiful plant.