The wisteria tree is a gorgeous flowering tree with blue-purple drooping streaming clusters that are stunning. Wisteria may also be cultivated as a single-stemmed tree, despite the fact that it is commonly cultivated as a vining plant.
As a magnificent specimen tree in your garden landscape, the stunning tree with its robust trunk, gnarled branches, and spreading canopy is sure to impress. The wisteria tree is explained in this article, as well as how to care for it. You’ll also discover how to grow a modest ornamental blooming wisteria vine.
What is Wisteria Tree
A woody twining wisteria vine is cultivated to grow as a tiny tree, and is referred to as a wisteria tree. A wisteria tree may reach 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) in height and width with proper care. The genus Wisteria and the legume family Fabaceae include the ornamental flowering wisteria tree.
The naked limbs of the wisteria tree are covered with 12″ to 18″ (30 – 45 cm) long drapery blue-purple blossom clusters when it is in full bloom. Many pea-sized light blue or purple-blue fragrant flowers make up each wisteria tree flower raceme.
From early until mid-spring, wisteria trees bloom for three to four weeks. Before the leaves emerge, Chinese wisteria trees blossom, and after the leaves emerge, American wisteria trees blossom. Wisteria is a small to huge flowering tree that grows swiftly. Wisteria may grow between 3 and 5 feet (1.5 to 1.5 m) per year if it is grown in full sun and gets plenty of water. Yet, the decorative tree does not flower for three to five years.
Wisteria tree roots may be invasive, thus it’s preferable to plant the beautiful tree some distance from native vegetation. It’s also a good idea to plant wisteria trees some distance from buildings, sidewalks, or walls because of its aggressive root system. Wisteria tree roots in the ground may grow as big as the canopy, according to photographs.
USDA zones 5 through 9 are ideal for wisteria trees, which are cold-hardy trees. The decorative landscape wisteria tree thrives in full sun and needs at least six hours of sunlight each day. The tree is able to tolerate some shade and may not produce as many flowers.
Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree (Wisteria sinensis)
A non-native cultivar of Chinese wisteria, the blue Chinese wisteria tree is a solitary stem accent tree. The lavender, blue, and purple blooms of the blue wisteria have a spreading canopy that is rounded. From mid-spring to late summer, the dangling foot-long (30 cm) flower clusters bloom on bare branches for many weeks.
At 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) tall, the fast-growing blue Chinese wisteria tree blooms. Throughout the summer, the dwarf tree has thick green leaves that become golden yellow in the autumn. The decorative tree also thrives in a variety of soil types.
In the landscape, the blue Chinese wisteria has many uses. As a specimen or lawn tree, the stunning tree is ideal. You can also place it on a patio or brighten up a container garden by planting the flowering dwarf tree in a container.
White Wisteria Tree
Wisteria sinensis ‘Jako’ and Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ are two types of white wisteria trees that bloom with cascading clusters of white racemes up to 24″ (60 cm) long. Following a few weeks of white floral displays and attractive bean pods, the tree is covered in snow.
The white wisteria thrives in full sun to partial shade, similar to the blue wisteria tree. As a specimen tree or in a container, you can grow the drought-tolerant tree. You’ll have to trim it and support its development as a tree since it’s a vining plant.
Wisteria Tree Flowers
The wisteria tree’s blossoms are huge clusters of exquisite lilac, blue, pink, or white blooms. Depending on the cultivar, the long dangling racemes may range from 6 to 24 inches (15 to 60 cm). The magnificent blooms have a lovely fragrance when they are in bloom in mid-spring.
Many individual lilac, white, blue, or pink peas-sized blossoms make up the wisteria flower clusters. The blooming clusters typically turn completely purple, blue, pink, or white as they mature. Every spring and summer, the spectacular floral displays of wisteria trees or vines are stunning.
How to Get a Wisteria Tree to Flower
Wisteria is a flowering tree that needs regular trimming to bloom. As a result, in order to encourage prominent blooming in the spring, a wisteria must be heavily pruned every summer and winter. For masses of spring flowers to cover the wisteria tree’s crown, it ideally requires short flowering stems.
Wisteria blooms bloom on new growth each year in late spring or early summer, depending on your climate. Remove fresh growth about two or three months after blooming, leaving roughly five huge buds on each new stem. Any trailing branches or branches that impact the tree’s overall look should also be removed.
Then, in late winter, cut back the same stems as you cut back in summer and trim branches that rub against each other. Each new-growth stem should have two or three blossom buds that are swollen. After you’ve done the pruning right, when the wisteria blooms again in late spring, you’ll be rewarded with masses of fragrant flowers.
Is Wisteria Tree Invasive?
Invasive roots of Chinese and Japanese wisteria trees may encroach on native vegetation in your yard. Non-native twining wisteria vines can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) per season, and they spread quickly. The purple vineing plant may quickly twine around trees and shrubs, limiting light and killing them.
Another issue with non-native Chinese wisteria is its tough root system. The roots may be difficult to eliminate once they have taken hold. The wisteria vines, on the other hand, can grow again if you don’t get rid of them entirely. Ornamental trees are less invasive because regular pruning regulates a wisteria tree’s development.
Twining vines, for example, don’t climb arbors, pergolas, or fences. Instead, you have a spreading canopy of gorgeous flowers and lush foliage on a single-stemmed tree.
Chinese Wisteria vs. American Wisteria
In comparison to the Chinese wisteria plant (Wisteria sinensis), American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) develops more slowly and is less aggressive. As a consequence, American wisteria blooms are usually tighter and rounder than Chinese wisteria blooms.
They don’t smell as good, either. The North American varieties bloom after they have leafed out, unlike Chinese wisterias, which flower while the tree is still leafless.
Dwarf Wisteria Tree for Small Gardens
Planting dwarf wisteria tree cultivars in tiny gardens or containers is a great idea. The fast-growing deciduous plant will be kept at bay by growing in a container. Dwarf wisterias reach a height of 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters).
A single-stemmed nursery plant is the best option to grow a dwarf wisteria tree in a tiny garden environment. Position a 5-foot (1.5 m) support stout 3″ (7.5 cm) away from the root and plant the rooted tree in the soil.
To support the developing tree, tie cloth strips to the stem.
Chop the top of the main stem, just above a growth node, after the tree has grown for about 5 feet (1.5 meters). This will enable the crown to achieve a more comprehensive canopy. Pruning side shoots and removing dead or misplaced branches twice a year should be part of regular maintenance.
When to Plant Wisteria Tree
Planting a wisteria tree is best done in the early spring or late fall. By placing a blooming tree in the ground while it is dormant, the roots can establish themselves before rapid development. You can move it to the ground at any time of year if you’re planting a container-grown wisteria.
Where to Plant Wisteria Tree
In rich, well-drained soil, plant a wisteria tree. The best location for wisterias is in a south- or west-facing section of your garden, because they need full sun. Wisteria trees are susceptible to foliar fungal diseases and will thrive in partial shade but bloom less.
Your landscaping objectives will influence where you decide to place a wisteria tree. The corner of your yard, for example, might be anchored by this beautiful blooming tree.
You can also create a spectacular spring floral display by planting three wisteria trees in a group. In a flower bed, the dwarf tree can also be grown.
How to Plant Wisteria Tree
After choosing where to plant a wisteria tree, you should prepare the ground for planting. First, dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and three times wide. Set the plant in the ground, so the point where the stem meets the roots is 1” (2.5 cm) below the soil surface.
Next, backfill the hole with native soil amended with compost, pressing down as you go to remove air pockets. Then, firm the soil around the central stem. Finally, give the root area a thorough soaking to help the roots get established and remove any remaining air pockets.
To support your tree Wisteria, push a wooden stake into the ground 6” to 12” (15 – 30 cm) deep and 0.5” (2.5 cm) away from its trunk. Secure the wisteria tree using cloth ties every 8” (20 cm) up the trunk. Then add a 2” to 3” (7.5 cm) layer of mulch around the root area to lock in moisture and stop weeds from growing.
Wisteria Tree Care Guide
Growing wisteria trees can be easy if you know how to take care of them properly. However, growing a wisteria tree in your garden requires regular maintenance and appropriate watering. But, if you get these things right, you can enjoy abundant lilac blooms every year in your front or backyard.
How to Water Wisteria Tree
A wisteria tree thrives in moist, well-drained, fertile soil and is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Water wisteria trees deeply about twice a week with a hose for the first two to three months after planting to provide the equivalent of 1” (2.5 cm) of water. After that, water the ground enough to keep it moist.
You can protect the roots of your plants, control weeds, and maintain moisture in the ground by adding about 2 inches (5 cm) of mulch.
Wisteria Tree Fertilization
A wisteria tree has few fertilizing requirements and only needs additional nutrients if the ground is especially poor or sandy. However, excessive fertilizer or nitrogen-rich fertilizer can inhibit blooming and weaken the plant’s growth. You can fertilize a wisteria tree once every spring with a 5-10-5 or 0-20-0 tree fertilizer.
How to Prune Wisteria Tree
Appropriate pruning is critical to encourage blooming and develop an attractive crown on the wisteria tree. During the first few years, remove lateral shoots below the branching crown. Once the tree starts flowering, it’s vital to prune it hard in early fall.
To prune a wisteria tree, you should cut back the current season’s growth to leave five or six large buds on the stem. Then, you can safely remove any out-of-place branches. The hard pruning encourages more flower buds to form and bloom the following season.
Propagating Wisteria Tree
The best time to propagate wisteria plants is in the spring or early summer, when they are growing swiftly. Cut off 6-inch (15-centimeter) fresh growth stems to grow a wisteria tree. Next, cut off the bottom leaves, dip the severed end in rooting hormone, and replant.
Place the cut end of a wisteria cutting in a pot containing a combination of moist peat moss and perlite to root it. Place the cutting in a warm area, not in direct sunlight, with a plastic bag over it. If necessary, mist the soil to keep it moist. The roots should emerge after four to six weeks.
You may remove the plastic bag and leave the new wisteria tree in the pot when you notice additional growth. After two to three months in a temperate climate, move the cutting to a bigger pot. After that, in the spring of the following year, you can put in the new tree.
Pests Affecting Wisteria Tree Growth
Pest infestations are less likely to affect wisteria trees. Aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs are some of the most common garden pests that flower trees may be afflicted by. Wisteria trees, on the other hand, are rarely damaged by these persistent insects. The wisteria borer is one insect that may harm wisteria plants.
A tiny beetle known as the wisteria borer drills into the woody stems of wisteria vines and trees. If they interrupt water and nutrient transport tissues, the plant-eating insects spend most of their lives in the limbs and may kill wisteria plants.
Keeping your ornamental tree in good condition and well-nourished is the best way to prevent wisteria borer damage. Borers like to infest stressed or sick plants.
Little circular holes in wisteria tree trunks or branches are a clear sign of borer activity. If you discover any of these, use Bacillus thuringiensis or Spinosad to naturally rid yourself of the harmful insects. If you have a little problem, skewer the larvae with a thin wire when they start to emerge in the spring.
Diseases Affecting Wisteria Tree Growth
Wisteria trees are a disease-resistant species that grows well. The lance-shaped, pinnately compound leaves can be infected with foliar fungal diseases. Powdery mildew, for example, and leaf spot might harm the look of your lovely wisteria tree.
White waxy coating on the leaves of a wisteria tree is Powdery mildew. The absence of adequate air circulation and cold temperatures are typically the cause of this benign fungal illness. Powdery mildew may be encouraged by watering the tree’s foliage.
You should trim the branches on your tree to promote air circulation between the leaves to help prevent powdery mildew from inflicting harm to its look. Also, watering the roots rather than the leaves is preferred.
A fuzzy yellow or brown spot on the tree’s foliage is a leaf spot, which is a fungal disease. By ensuring that your plant has enough air flow, fungal leaf infections are generally not harmful and may be avoided. Before spraying the remaining leaves with neem oil, prune away infected areas if the condition is widespread.