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.
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 maintained correctly. 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.
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.
Can you plant wisteria in a pot?
Yes, you can plant wisteria in a pot, just ensure it is a minimum of 600mm wide.
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.
Watch: Charlie Albone shares his tips for pruning wisteria
