Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree Care & Growing Guide

Nothing stuns a garden landscape more than a flowering tree. And for this reason, wisteria trees are pretty popular. There are many types of wisteria plants boasting various colors of flower clusters.

The blue wisteria tree produces lavender and blue-purple flowers, displaying them on bare branches from mid-Spring to late Spring.

PLANT NAME: Wisteria sinensis

Other Name: Chinese wisteria tree, tree wisteria,

Plant Type: Small tree

Native Areas: China

Light Requirement: Partial shade to full sun

Watering: Weekly watering

Fertilizer: Fertilize with slow-growing fertilizer during Spring

Toxicity: Seeds are toxic to pets and humans

Temperature:

Propagation: Cuttings

Growth: Fast-growing

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, and fertile soil

More About Blue Chinese Wisteria

Wisteria sinensis

The Blue Chinese Wisteria tree is a deciduous species having dark green leaves throughout summer that turn to golden yellow in the fall season. This tree is relatively small, reaching a mature height of 10 to 15 feet only. But it’s a fast-growing one.

A wisteria variety native to China, this dwarf tree has a rounded canopy and grows on a single main stem. The wisteria blooms hang downwards in foot-long clusters, creating a stunning accent on the planting site. As the flowers are beautifully fragrant, they also offer a sanctuary to pollinators like bees, and butterflies.

Because of its vigorous growth and self-seeding capacity, the wisteria tree is often tagged as invasive species in many areas in the US. They may require a lot of maintenance to keep the unwanted spread of the seeds. It’s also crucial to check with your local authority if they allow the planting of a wisteria tree before you grow one.

Blue Chinese Wisteria Care

Soil

potting soil

Blue Chinese wisteria is adaptable to different types of soil such as loam, silt, or sandy as long as it’s well-draining. The soil mix should have enough air pockets for the root system to have access to oxygen. Planting wisteria moist soil is fine as long as it’s not waterlogged.

To improve the soil structure and enhance fertility, amend the soil with organic materials such as aged manure, compost, or peat moss. These amendments will help loosen compaction. The preferred soil pH is between 4.5 to 7.

Lighting

Wisteria sinensis lighting condition

When it comes to lighting, you have to remember one thing. The sunnier, the better! Wisteria trees love the full sun as it helps produce lots of wisteria blooms. However, it will also do well in partial shade as long as it still receives sunlight for about 4 to 5 hours a day.

But if you want to witness the abundance of fragrant flowers, plant wisteria trees in an open area that receives plenty of light.

Watering

Wisteria trees have a reputation for being drought tolerant once established. So, you won’t need to spend so much time watering a mature wisteria tree. However, during the early stage, you’ll need to water regularly to support the growth of young plants.

Keep the soil moist and make sure to soak the root ball every time you water. Doing this will help the wisteria tree to develop an extensive root system.

Frequent watering to the point that the soil becomes soggy is not a good practice. This will eventually cause the wisteria tree to develop root rot, which might lead to death. Remember to give what your container plant needs.

Temperature and Humidity

Wisteria sinensis

If your area is under USDA zones 5 through 9, you can plant wisteria trees outdoors without trouble. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -20°F (-26°C) and as warm as 30°F (-1.2°C). But if you live in much cooler regions, your wisteria tree will survive if it’s potted.

You’ll have to bring it indoors during winter to protect it from damage.

Fertilizer

plant fertilizer

A fertile soil is favorable for growing a wisteria tree. During early Spring, apply slow-release fertilizer that’s intended for woody plants such as trees and shrubs. This helps boost lush growth and encourage flowering.

Pruning

Since the wisteria plant is a vigorous grower, it will need frequent pruning. You can do light pruning during the growing season to remove outgrowths and keep the vine tidy. But if you want to do heavy pruning to reduce the size of the whole plant, do so after the blooming period.

Propagating Chinese wisteria

If you wish to enjoy more wisteria flowers, make sure to propagate your wisteria tree. Propagation is pretty easy by using softwood cuttings. You can use the cuttings from your last pruning and choose the vigorous ones for propagation.

Here’s how:

  1. Take softwood cuttings 3 to 6 inches in length. These are the ones that are green in color and haven’t developed bark yet. It should have at least two leaves.

  2. Dip the rooting end of the softwood cutting into a rooting hormone for a few seconds.

  3. Dig a hole in a potting medium, then plant the cutting. Press the soil around to make sure the cutting is stable.

  4. Water the potting medium.

  5. Cover the top part of the cuttings with a plastic bag to conserve moisture and prevent the cuttings from drying out.

  6. Place the pot in an area with bright, indirect light.

  7. Check the soil regularly and water it well to keep it moist.

The cuttings will develop roots in about four to six weeks. Allow the cuttings to grow a little more before transplanting them to a bigger container.

Potting

Because it’s a small tree, it’s possible to plant a Wisteria plant in a container. However, it will require more effort in terms of care and maintenance. Once you have your tree, repot it to a pot that’s two inches larger than the original pot where it’s planted.

Wisteria plants develop an extensive root system. So, you can prune some aged and unhealthy parts of the roots before repotting. Use regular potting soil that’s well-draining and sterile. Water your Wisteria tree regularly after repotting to help the roots establish themselves in the new environment.

For younger Wisteria trees, conduct repotting every two years. But for the mature plants, do it every three to five years.

Other Wisteria Tree Species

Apart from Wisteria sinensis, there are other stunning species of Wisteria tree that you’ll find interesting. They include the Wisteria frutescens, Wisteria floribunda, and Wisteria macrostachya. Get to know each of them here below:

Wisteria frutescens

Wisteria frutescens

This is more popular for its name, American wisteria — a deciduous vine that grows up to 40 feet in height. Aside from its purple blooms, the American wisteria blooms are known for their aromatic fragrance, making the whole plant lovely.

Wisteria floribunda

Wisteria floribunda @flickr Wisteria floribunda @flickr

This species is known as the Japanese wisteria. It’s also a vining plant that grows almost half the size of the American wisteria, about 20 to 30 feet high. Japanese wisteria trees produce flowers in drooping clusters which start in early Spring.

Wisteria macrostachya

The Wisteria macrostachya is commonly referred to as Kentucky wisteria. It’s also a deciduous vine that grows up to 25 feet high. This wisteria vine produces flowers in June that are bluish in color.

Blue Chinese Wisteria Common Diseases and Pests

Blue wisteria isn’t totally disease resistant. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spots may cause trouble to the plant. You’ll have to prune the affected area and spray neem oil solution to prevent disease spread.

Wisteria borer is a common pest in the wisteria species. This pest produces significant damage to plants and is difficult to control. Make sure to keep your wisteria vines and trees healthy so they don’t become susceptible to pests.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Blue Chinese wisteria tree is considered invasive species in other states. Make sure to check the regulations in the state where you live to avoid trouble with authorities.

Yes, Chinese wisteria is an aggressive grower given proper environmental conditions. It can spread out through wisteria vines and stolons that produce new growth.

Yes. Wisteria trees produce aggressive root systems. That’s why you have to plant wisteria trees away from buildings, houses, sidewalks, or walls to prevent damage. Its root system can grow as wide as its canopy.

Some garden centers offer wisteria trees in their collection. Plantly offers a variety of outdoor tree planting materials like Chinese wisteria trees. Check it out.

Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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