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Climber · Fabaceae family

Chinese wisteria

Wisteria sinensis

Full sun to part shade 3–12 m × 1.2–5 m Flowers May–June to −29 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size3–12 m
spacing 2 m
FlowersMay–June
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
averageloamysandyclay

Watering

less when it rains

Frost

−29 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m4 m5 m6 m7 m8 m9 m10 m11 m12 m3–12 mspread 1.2–5 m
3–12 m× spread 1.2–5 m

Plant 2 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June · purple, blue or white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May

What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Moderate
balanced fertiliserhigh-potash fertiliser
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
Aphidspest · spring – summer

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
More about this problem

What you will see

Fine pale speckling of leaves, tiny mites and fine webbing on the undersides; leaf drop in severe attacks.

When to look

Outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter.
  2. By handRegularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.
  3. BiologicalPredatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
Two-spotted spider mitepest · outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

What you will see

Fine pale speckling of leaves, tiny mites and fine webbing on the undersides; leaf drop in severe attacks.

When to look

Outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter.
  2. By handRegularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.
  3. BiologicalPredatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
More about this problem

What you will see

Waxy scales on stems and leaves, sooty mould on honeydew.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Healthy plants tolerate low numbers of scale insects.
  2. By handRemove adult scale insects and egg masses when visible.
  3. BiologicalSteinernema feltiae nematode against soft scales (use with care, it may also affect other animals); encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps.
Scale insectspest · all year

What you will see

Waxy scales on stems and leaves, sooty mould on honeydew.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Healthy plants tolerate low numbers of scale insects.
  2. By handRemove adult scale insects and egg masses when visible.
  3. BiologicalSteinernema feltiae nematode against soft scales (use with care, it may also affect other animals); encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps.
More about this problem

What you will see

Wilting, yellow or thin foliage, dieback of branches.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Improve drainage; do not plant sensitive species on heavy, waterlogged soils.
  2. By handFor a local outbreak, destroy the plants and replace the soil in the root zone; plant a less susceptible species.
Phytophthora root rotdisease · all year

What you will see

Wilting, yellow or thin foliage, dieback of branches.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Improve drainage; do not plant sensitive species on heavy, waterlogged soils.
  2. By handFor a local outbreak, destroy the plants and replace the soil in the root zone; plant a less susceptible species.
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring onwards

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
More about this problem
Sources (6)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does Chinese wisteria flower?

In May–June; the flowers are purple, blue or white.

Does Chinese wisteria tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Chinese wisteria need?

At maturity 1.2–5 m wide and 3–12 m tall; recommended spacing 2 m.

Aphids — what can you do?

Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them. Wipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.

Two-spotted spider mite — what can you do?

Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter. Regularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.

Sources (21) Checked 24 October 2026

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