Chinese Wisteria

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Chinese wisteria is a vigorous climbing plant that produces spectacular hanging flower clusters in spring. The fragrant purple, blue, or white blooms appear before the foliage has fully unfurled. A mature plant can completely cover walls and pergolas with a lush canopy of leaves.

See in your garden

Characteristics

Sun: Full sun, Partial shade
Water: Medium
Height: 900–1500 cm
Spread: 400–800 cm
Hardiness zone: 5–8
Family: Fabaceae
Evergreen: No
Flower colors: purple, blue, white
Wildlife value: bees, butterflies

Bloom period

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Care guide

Plant in humus-rich, well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny spot. Provide a sturdy support structure or pergola — the branches become remarkably heavy. Water regularly during the first year, then only during prolonged dry spells. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

Pruning tips

Prune twice a year: in July, cut back new shoots to five or six leaves, and in February reduce these same shoots to two or three buds. This encourages flower bud formation for the following season.

Good companions

Abundant white flowers of mountain clematis along a pergola

Climbers

Clematis montana

Mountain Clematis

Mountain clematis is a fast-growing climber that becomes smothered in white or pink flowers during May and June. The plant can cover large surfaces in a short time, making it ideal for growing over pergolas, fences, and unsightly walls. The lightly fragrant blooms appear on the previous year's wood.

Full sunMedium600–1200 cm

Blooming lavender with purple-blue flowers in summer sunlight

Shrubs

Lavandula angustifolia

English Lavender

Lavender is a beloved herb with aromatic silver-green foliage and purple-blue flower spikes. This evergreen plant blooms profusely from June to August and is remarkably drought-tolerant, attracting butterflies and bees to the garden.

Full sunLow30–60 cm

Ground cover

Ajuga reptans

Bugleweed

Bugleweed is a robust ground cover that spreads rapidly through runners. From April to June, dense spikes of blue-purple flowers rise above the dark green, glossy foliage. The plant is evergreen and forms a continuous carpet within a single growing season.

Partial shadeMedium10–20 cm