PlantSowGrow
How to plant and care for Wisteria (Chinese)
Wisteria sinensis
Long, hanging chains of scented lilac flowers in May on a sunny wall or pergola. Needs twice-yearly pruning to flower well — and patience.
When to plant and care for it
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Wisteria (Chinese): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water well until established, then in dry spells
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Spacing
- 4 m
- Height
- 8–10 m
- In pots
- Grows well in containers
- Feeding
- Balanced feed in spring
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–9
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Step by step
- On planting day
Plant
Plant against a sunny wall with strong horizontal wires, or at the foot of a pergola post. Buy a grafted plant for earlier flowers.
- 0–1 days after “Plant”
Water In Well
Give a full can of water, then keep moist for the first few weeks while roots establish.
- 7–14 days after “Water In Well”
Mulch Around the Base
Spread 5 cm of compost or bark around the plant, keeping it off the stems.
Every year
- FebruaryWinter Pruning
Shorten the summer-pruned side shoots again to 2–3 buds — these fat buds are next spring's flowers.
- MarchHigh-Potash Feed
Scatter sulphate of potash around the roots to encourage flower buds.
- MayIn Flower
Wisteria in full flower — take a photo. (Grafted plants flower within 2–3 years.)
Starts from year 3.
- AugustSummer Pruning
Cut this year's long whippy side shoots back to 5–6 leaves (about 30 cm). Tie in shoots you want to extend the frame.
