Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) flower clusters. Photo: Wendy VanDyk Evans, Bugwood.org
Updated: January 28, 2026
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), and their hybrids (Wisteria x formosa, or Wisteria floribunda x sinensis) are perennial deciduous vines native to Asia. They have been planted extensively for their decorative and sometimes fragrant flowers, which open on bare stems before leaves emerge.
Physical features of Asian wisterias
Wisterias are deciduous twining vines, wrapping their main stems tightly around a support in order to climb. While one species of native wisteria (American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens) grows in the southeastern U.S., the Asian species have longer flower clusters, an earlier bloom time, and more rampant growth overall. Chinese and Japanese wisteria can be difficult to distinguish from one another, and from American wisteria, when they are out of bloom or do not have seed pods.
Growth rate and habit: rapid growth rate (several feet per year); twining vine that wraps around other plants or structures as the stems grow upwards
Typical mature size: greatly dependent on the height and width of its support, though vining stems can easily reach 25 feet or more in length
Blooms: hanging clusters up to 20 inches long; flowers open before the leaves emerge; Chinese wisteria blooms tend to open more-or-less all at once, compared to a progression of flowers opening from the base of the cluster to the tip for Japanese wisteria; mild to strong fragrance; colors range from lavender-blue to pastel pinkish-purple to white
Leaves: compound (divided into leaflets), about 1 foot long overall; 7 to 13 leaflets on Chinese wisteria and 13 to 19 on Japanese wisteria; alternate arrangement on the stem
Fruit/seeds: large bean pods (about 4 to 6 inches long) with a velvety surface texture
Stems: Chinese wisteria wraps around a support in a clockwise direction, while Japanese wisteria wraps counterclockwise; main stems become thick and trunk-like as the vine matures
Environmental impacts of Asian wisteria
Chinese, Japanese, and hybrid Asian wisterias are invasive species. When they escape gardens and establish in natural areas, wisterias displace native vegetation. These species spread from seed and encroach on other plants with stems running along the ground until they find supports to climb. After removal, fragments of the root system left in the ground can sprout. Wisteria can kill mature trees by shading their foliage and strangling trunks with constricting, heavy vines.
Conditions that favor growth
Wisteria grows best and flowers more abundantly in full sun, but it will tolerate some shade as it climbs taller plants in search of sunlight. They prefer moist, well-drained soils but can grow in a variety of soil conditions. They invade forest edges, roadsides, and ditches.
Alternatives to Asian wisteria
Do not plant Chinese, Japanese, or hybrid wisteria, and replace existing specimens when possible. While American wisteria is native in the U.S., it does not naturally occur in Maryland and may become weedy in natural areas. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) regulates the sale of invasive plants, and these three Asian species of wisteria are prohibited under Maryland law. Refer to the MDA's Invasive Plants Prevention and Control resource page for more information and a list of all other regulated species.
Several native vines with showy flowers can be grown instead of wisteria, though most are not fragrant and flower later than early spring. Even though they are native, many species are rampant growers and require a sturdy support and plenty of space to mature without impeding the growth of nearby plants or attaching to a building. Candidates include trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), virgin's-bower clematis (Clematis virginiana), and crossvine (Bignonia capreolata).
Invasive Plants to Avoid Buying for your Yard and Garden in Maryland
Removing non-native wisterias
