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Useful Temperate Plants

Wisteria floribunda

(Willd.) DC.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Dolichos japonicas Spreng.

Glycine floribunda Willd.

Kraunhia floribunda (Willd.) Taub.

Millettia floribunda (Willd.) Matsum.

Phaseolodes floribundum (Willd.) Kuntze

Rehsonia floribunda (Willd.) Stritch

Wisteria multijuga Van Houtte

Wisteria sinensis violaceo-plena C.K.Schneid.

Common Name: Japanese Wisteria

No Image.

General Information

Wisteria floribunda is a deciduous climbing shrub with twining stems; it can grow 10 metres or more high into the surrounding vegetation[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a source of fibre. It is commonly grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its floral display in the spring.

Known Hazards

The seed of all members of this genus is poisonous[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The seed and seedpod contain a resin and a glycoside called wisterin. Toxic in large quantities, causing nausea, vomitting, stomach pain and diarrhoea[
292
Title
People Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
https://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database of New Zealand plants and their Maori names and uses. An excellent information source.
]

Botanical References

11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

E. Asia - Japan, [Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku] Korea

Habitat

Damp habitats by streams etc in thickets and woods in hills and mountains in all areas of Japan south of Hokkaido[
58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Climber
Height8.00 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Although Wisteria floribunda is winter hardy to about -20°c[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
], when growing in areas with cool summers the plant requires the extra summer warmth of a sunny wall if it is to do well[
184
Title
Shrubs.
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1989
ISBN
0-330-30258-2
Description
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars.
].
Prefers a good loamy soil in a sunny south or south-west facing position, sheltered from cold winds and from early morning sun on frosty mornings[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants can become chlorotic on alkaline soils[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. A soil that is too rich results in excessive foliage at the expense of flowering[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants can take a few years to settle down after planting out[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
]. Too much shade or too rich a soil are normally the culprits, some form of root restriction can be beneficial[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].
A vigorous climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around shrubs and trees, though it also succeeds as a free-standing shrub, growing to about 2 metres in height. The shoots twine in a clock-wise direction[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
].
This species is closely related to W. sinensis[
50
Title
Flora Europaea
Publication
 
Author
?
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1964
ISBN
-
Description
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
,
126
Title
The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985.
Publication
 
Author
?
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1984
ISBN
-
Description
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants including Actinidia and Wisteria species.
].
Often grown as an ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The flowers have a strong perfume which can be sweet or musty according to the variety being grown[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].
The plants flower mainly on short spurs so, if removing unwanted side-branches, it is best to cut them back to 2 - 3 leaves rather than removing them completely since this will encourage the formation of flowering spurs[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. Any drastic pruning is best carried out in the spring, immediately after flowering[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. Plants are very tolerant of even the most drastic pruning and will re-grow even if cut right back to the base[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].
Plants are self-fertile and usually produce good crops of seeds in cultivation, there are several cultivars such as 'Geisha' and 'Royal Purple' that are particularly good at this[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The plants also form a symbiotic relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus which makes more water, phosphorus and other minerals available to the plants[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. When baked in a fire they have much the same flavour as chestnuts[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity at the top of the page.

Young leaves - cooked[
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. The tender young leaves are sometimes eaten and are also used a a tea substitute[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].

Flowers - cooked[
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. Used as a food in parts of China[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark is used for making ropes and sandals[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. The branches can be used as cables and also for making bridges, for which purpose it is said to be very durable[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].

The bark is rich in tannins[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Propagation

The seed does not exhibit any dormancy habits. It can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame and should germinate in the spring. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in late spring[
126
Title
The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985.
Publication
 
Author
?
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1984
ISBN
-
Description
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants including Actinidia and Wisteria species.
]. Germination should take place in the first spring, though it can sometimes be delayed for another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Plants are very slow from seed and can take up to 20 years to come into flower[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Basal cuttings of side-shoots in early to mid summer in a frame[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Take the cuttings as soon as the new growth has hardened sufficiently, each cutting should have 2 - 3 leaves[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. It can also help to remove a shallow slice of bark from the bottom 15mm of the cutting to expose extra cambium, since this will encourage more callusing and better rooting[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
]. When kept in a mist frame with a bottom heat of 27 - 30°c, they will root within 4 weeks and produce well-established plants by the autumn[
249
Title
Wisterias: a comprehensive guide.
Publication
 
Author
Valder. P.
Publisher
Florilegium. Australia.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-646-22049-7
Description
Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses.
].
Layering in spring. Simply lay any convenient long shoot along the ground and cover it with a shallow layer of soil. The shoot will readily produce roots at intervals along the stem. When these are well formed, the shoot can be divided up into a number of plants. These should be potted up and kept in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until well established and can then be planted out as required.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Wisteria+floribunda>

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