Anyone who has seen wisteria will be familiar with its dreamy, flowing, stunning purple display – it truly is something to behold! “Wisteria has to be one of my all-time favourite plants,” says landscape designer Charlie Albone. “In my garden, I’ve got it over a pergola. It gives us protection from the summer sun, and we get lovely dappled light during winter. But the thing I love most about wisteria is the amazing show-stopping flowers.”
Want to know how to grow wisteria? The good news is that growing wisteria is something you can easily tackle yourself, meaning you’re guaranteed an unmatched flowering spring display year after year. And yes, wisteria can easily be grown in Australia, especially in temperate to cooler climates. But make sure you pick the right wisteria species for your region.
Wisteria at a glance
- When to plant: October to April
- Climate: temperate to cooler climates; needs winter chill to flower well
- Aspect: full sun, sheltered from strong wind
- Water: regular watering while establishing; established plants are largely self-sufficient
- Soil type: well-drained; avoid clay, sandy or waterlogged spots
- Flowering: spring
- Growth habit: vigorous, twining climber. Needs strong support and regular pruning
When to plant wisteria
Wisteria needs a bit of winter cold weather to properly bloom, so you’ll usually see flowers start to pop up in spring as the weather warms up. Given this, the best time to plant wisteria is between October and April, so it has time to take advantage of the chill factor!
Types of wisteria
There are two main types of wisteria commonly grown in Australia.
Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis)
Chinese wisteria tends to be grown in warmer temperate areas and produces blue blooms.
Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda)
Japanese wisteria prefers cooler regions and loves frost! It comes in an array of colours including pink, purple and white, and produces more flowers than its Chinese counterpart. Some of them even have double flowers, a variety referred to as ‘Double Japanese’ or ‘Black Dragon’.
Are there any downsides to growing wisteria?
Wisteria is a fast-growing plant that can easily grow out of control if not properly maintained. In fact, Charlie calls it a “super vigorous climber.” When left to grow rampantly, it can smother other vegetation or destroy supporting structures. Charlie knows this all-too well, as a pergola supporting a twenty-year-old wisteria in his garden was buckling under the weight of the plant. He reinforced the pergola and now prunes the plant several times a year.
To avoid this, choose a support structure built for the long term (steel or reinforced timber rather than a lightweight trellis), and prune at least twice a year — after flowering in late spring, and again in summer to control whippy new growth.
Another downside to wisteria is that in some regions, it is considered an invasive species. Check your local council website to ensure the variety you’re planting is safe for your area.
How to grow wisteria in your garden
Aspect
Choose a sunny spot and, if possible, choose a space that is protected from the wind. This will mean the gorgeous purple blooms aren’t blown away in any strong gusts come spring.
Soil
Wisteria likes soil that drains well, but otherwise is fairly unfussy. It may struggle in clay or sandy spots, and you should avoid anywhere that is likely to get water-logged.
Planting wisteria
Given that wisteria can grow like a weed, it’s best not to enrich the soil with composts or manures unless it is really necessary (i.e. if it’s lacking nutrients or excessively sandy). Instead, you should turn the soil over and add some slow-release fertiliser.
Dig your hole twice as wide as the root ball and form a “donut” of soil around the outer edge of the plant’s root zone as you backfill. This will help to guide water where it’s needed most. Wisteria loves to climb, so planting it near a pergola or a fence or wall with added support (wire framing) is great.
If you are using wire framing, leave 10cm between the wire and the wall to allow for growth.
Water
Wisteria should be watered regularly, though established plants tend not to need supplementary watering.
Fertiliser
You should aim to feed your wisteria annually with a controlled-release fertiliser.
Maintenance
Because wisteria can get quickly and easily out of hand, it’s important to prune wisteria regularly. “In Australia, this plant is really so vigorous you need to prune it throughout the year,” says Charlie. “You can take off any whippy growth that gets in the way. But to maximise flowers, you need to prune it just before it blooms.”
You can prune also prune to help train the plant. In spring, you can prune and train new shoots.
Pests
Wisteria doesn’t have too much trouble with pests, but keep an eye out for aphids and scale. Aphids cluster on new shoots in spring, distorting growth and leaving behind sticky honeydew.
If your wisteria isn’t flowering
A wisteria that won’t bloom is a common complaint. This can occur for a few reason, inluding insufficient sunlight (wisteria needs at least six hours of direct sun), pruning at the wrong time, and not being mature enough yet, which can take up to 20 years.
Watch: Charlie Albone shares his tips for pruning wisteria
Yes, you can plant wisteria in a pot, just ensure it is a minimum of 600mm wide.
In some regions, yes. Wisteria’s vigorous growth means it’s classified as invasive or a weed risk in parts of Australia, so it’s worth checking your local council’s website before planting to make sure the variety you have in mind is safe for your area.
Grafted wisteria (the type most commonly sold at nurseries) can flower within a few years of planting, while seed-grown plants can take considerably longer
