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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Wisteria''
| image = wisteria_fl.jpg
| image_caption = Flowering ''Wisteria''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Millettieae]]
| genus = '''''Wisteria'''''
| genus_authority = [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
{{otheruses}}
'''''Wisteria''''' is a [[genus]] of about ten species of woody climbing [[vine]]s native to the eastern [[United States]] and the East Asian states of [[China]], [[Korea]], and [[Japan]]. Aquarists refer to the species ''[[Hygrophila difformis]]'', in the genus ''[[Hygrophila]]'', as [[Water Wisteria]].
''Wisteria'' vines climb by twining their [[Plant stem|stem]]s either [[Clockwise and counterclockwise|clockwise]] or [[counter-clockwise]] round any available support. They can climb as high as 20 [[metre|m]] above ground and spread out 10 m laterally.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, 15 to 35 [[centimetre|cm]] long, pinnate, with 9 to 19 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are produced in pendulous [[raceme]]s 10 to 80 cm long, similar to those of the genus ''[[Laburnum]]'', but are purple, violet, pink or white, not yellow. Flowering is in the spring (just before or as the leaves open) in some Asian species, and in mid to late summer in the American species and ''W. japonica''. The flowers of some species are fragrant, most notably Chinese Wisteria. The [[seed]]s are produced in pods similar to those of laburnum, and, like that genus, are [[poison]]ous.
The genus was named after Daniel Wister who helped underwrite the voyage of the American commercial vessel Empress of China. The spelling ''Wisteria'' is [[nomen conservandum|conserved]] under the [[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]].
''Wisteria'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[brown-tail]]. It is also an extremely popular ornamental in [[China]] and [[Japan]].
== Cultivation ==
[[image:Wisteria at Nymans Gardens, West Sussex, England May 2006.JPG|thumb|left|300px|''Wisteria'' against ruined house at Nymans Gardens, [[West Sussex]], England.]]
''Wisteria'', especially ''Wisteria sinensis'', is very hardy and fast-growing. It is considered an [[invasive species]] in certain areas. It can grow in fairly poor-quality soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained ones. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.
''Wisteria'' can be propagated via hardwood cutting, softwood cuttings, or seed. However, seeded specimens can take decades to bloom; for that reason, [[gardener]]s usually grow plants that have been started from rooted cuttings or grafted [[cultivar]]s known to flower well. Another reason for failure to bloom can be excessive fertilizer (particularly [[nitrogen]]). ''Wisteria'' has nitrogen fixing capability (provided by Rhizobia bacteria in root nodules), and thus mature plants may benefit from added [[potassium]] and [[phosphate]], but not nitrogen. Finally, ''wisteria'' can be reluctant to bloom because it has not reached maturity. Maturation may require only a few years, as in Kentucky Wisteria, or nearly twenty, as in Chinese Wisteria. Maturation can be forced by physically abusing the main [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]], root pruning, or [[drought]] stress.
''Wisteria'' can grow into a mound when unsupported, but is at its best when allowed to clamber up a [[tree]], [[pergola]], [[wall]], or other supporting structure. Whatever the case, the support must be very sturdy, because old ''wisteria'' can grow into immensely strong and heavy wrist-thick [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]]s and [[Plant stem|stem]]s. These will certainly rend [[latticework]], crush thin wooden posts, and can even strangle large trees. Its pendulous racemes are best viewed from below.
''Wisteria'' flowers develop in buds near the base of the previous year's growth, so [[pruning]] back side shoots to the basal few buds in early spring can enhance the visibility of the flowers. If it is desired to control the size of the plant, the side shoots can be shortened to between 20 and 40 cm long in mid summer, and back to 10 to 20 cm in the fall. The flowers of some varieties are edible, and can even be used to make wine. Others are said to be toxic. Careful identification by an expert is strongly recommended before consuming this or any wild plant.
==Species==
* ''[[Wisteria brachybotrys]]''
* ''[[Wisteria floribunda]]'' - Japanese Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria frutescens]]'' - American Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria japonica]]''
* ''[[Wisteria macrostachya]]'' - Kentucky Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria sinensis]]'' - Chinese Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria venusta]]'' - Silky Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria villosa]]''
Non-Wisteria species:
* ''[[Hygrophila difformis]]'' - Water Wisteria
==References==
* [http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1246.html Ohio State University fact sheet]
<gallery>
Image:Wisteria Sinensis trained along a wall.jpg|''Wisteria sinensis'' trained to grow up and along a building wall.
Image:Wisteria floribunda1.jpg|''Wisteria floribunda''
Image:Wisteria floribunda5.jpg|''Wisteria floribunda''
Image:OzarkWisteria1.JPG|''Ozark Wisteria''
Image:OzarkWisteria2.jpg|''Ozark Wisteria''
Image:Aa wisteria spruce 00.jpg|''Wisteria'' in flower climbing up a [[spruce]] tree
Image:Wisteria Japonica.jpg|''Wisteria Japonica''
</gallery>
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Wisteria''
| image = wisteria_fl.jpg
| image_caption = Flowering ''Wisteria''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Millettieae]]
| genus = '''''Wisteria'''''
| genus_authority = [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
{{otheruses}}
'''''Wisteria''''' is a [[genus]] of about ten species of woody climbing [[vine]]s native to the eastern [[United States]] and the East Asian states of [[China]], [[Korea]], and [[Japan]]. Aquarists refer to the species ''[[Hygrophila difformis]]'', in the genus ''[[Hygrophila]]'', as [[Water Wisteria]].
''Wisteria'' vines climb by twining their [[Plant stem|stem]]s either [[Clockwise and counterclockwise|clockwise]] or [[counter-clockwise]] round any available support. They can climb as high as 20 [[metre|m]] above ground and spread out 10 m laterally.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, 15 to 35 [[centimetre|cm]] long, pinnate, with 9 to 19 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are produced in pendulous [[raceme]]s 10 to 80 cm long, similar to those of the genus ''[[Laburnum]]'', but are purple, violet, pink or white, not yellow. Flowering is in the spring (just before or as the leaves open) in some Asian species, and in mid to late summer in the American species and ''W. japonica''. The flowers of some species are fragrant, most notably Chinese Wisteria. The [[seed]]s are produced in pods similar to those of laburnum, and, like that genus, are [[poison]]ous.
The genus was named after Daniel Wister who helped underwrite the voyage of the American commercial vessel Empress of China. The spelling ''Wisteria'' is [[nomen conservandum|conserved]] under the [[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]].
''Wisteria'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[brown-tail]]. It is also an extremely popular ornamental in [[China]] and [[Japan]].
== Cultivation ==
[[image:Wisteria at Nymans Gardens, West Sussex, England May 2006.JPG|thumb|left|300px|''Wisteria'' against ruined house at Nymans Gardens, [[West Sussex]], England.]]
''Wisteria'', especially ''Wisteria sinensis'', is very hardy and fast-growing. It is considered an [[invasive species]] in certain areas. It can grow in fairly poor-quality soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained ones. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.
''Wisteria'' can be propagated via hardwood cutting, softwood cuttings, or seed. However, seeded specimens can take decades to bloom; for that reason, [[gardener]]s usually grow plants that have been started from rooted cuttings or grafted [[cultivar]]s known to flower well. Another reason for failure to bloom can be excessive fertilizer (particularly [[nitrogen]]). ''Wisteria'' has nitrogen fixing capability (provided by Rhizobia bacteria in root nodules), and thus mature plants may benefit from added [[potassium]] and [[phosphate]], but not nitrogen. Finally, ''wisteria'' can be reluctant to bloom because it has not reached maturity. Maturation may require only a few years, as in Kentucky Wisteria, or nearly twenty, as in Chinese Wisteria. Maturation can be forced by physically abusing the main [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]], root pruning, or [[drought]] stress.
''Wisteria'' can grow into a mound when unsupported, but is at its best when allowed to clamber up a [[tree]], [[pergola]], [[wall]], or other supporting structure. Whatever the case, the support must be very sturdy, because old ''wisteria'' can grow into immensely strong and heavy wrist-thick [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]]s and [[Plant stem|stem]]s. These will certainly rend [[latticework]], crush thin wooden posts, and can even strangle large trees. Its pendulous racemes are best viewed from below.
''Wisteria'' flowers develop in buds near the base of the previous year's growth, so [[pruning]] back side shoots to the basal few buds in early spring can enhance the visibility of the flowers. If it is desired to control the size of the plant, the side shoots can be shortened to between 20 and 40 cm long in mid summer, and back to 10 to 20 cm in the fall. The flowers of some varieties are edible, and can even be used to make wine. Others are said to be toxic. Careful identification by an expert is strongly recommended before consuming this or any wild plant.
==Species==
* ''[[Wisteria brachybotrys]]''
* ''[[Wisteria floribunda]]'' - Japanese Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria frutescens]]'' - American Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria japonica]]''
* ''[[Wisteria macrostachya]]'' - Kentucky Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria sinensis]]'' - Chinese Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria venusta]]'' - Silky Wisteria
* ''[[Wisteria villosa]]''
Non-Wisteria species:
* ''[[Hygrophila difformis]]'' - Water Wisteria
==References==
* [http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1246.html Ohio State University fact sheet]
<gallery>
Image:Wisteria Sinensis trained along a wall.jpg|''Wisteria sinensis'' trained to grow up and along a building wall.
Image:Wisteria floribunda1.jpg|''Wisteria floribunda''
Image:Wisteria floribunda5.jpg|''Wisteria floribunda''
Image:OzarkWisteria1.JPG|''Ozark Wisteria''
Image:OzarkWisteria2.jpg|''Ozark Wisteria''
Image:Aa wisteria spruce 00.jpg|''Wisteria'' in flower climbing up a [[spruce]] tree
Image:Wisteria Japonica.jpg|''Wisteria Japonica''
</gallery>
