Wisteria sinensis CHINESE WISTERIA (5 seeds)

Chinese wisteria, or Wisteria sinensis in Latin, is a woody and hardy plant from the Fabaceae family. It is a very fast grower; this climber can reach 5 to 15 meters in length. Wisteria is native to the Far East, specifically China and Japan. It is also found in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Wisteria flowers are fragrant and drooping. They are violet and blue in color and measure 30 to 40 cm in length. Blooming occurs in the spring, starting in April.

Its fruits are long, gray pods containing between 3 and 7 seeds. They are harvested when fully ripe from October until the end of February, once the leaves have fallen. To do this, you must shell the rather thick husk to remove the mature seeds inside before the pod explodes and scatters them.

Wisteria sinensis seeds are circular, flat, gray, and sometimes brown in color. They weigh several dozen grams.

- Uses:

Wisteria is cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its clusters of spring flowers and thick foliage. This climber can be planted to beautify a pergola or a trellis. It also provides excellent shade for a garden or terrace. It can showcase an arch, a wall, or a gazebo where you can enjoy the fragrance of its flowers.

Its edible flowers can be consumed. To do so, simply wash them carefully and then boil them or turn them into fritters.

Its deciduous leaves are sometimes used as a tea substitute, but be careful not to consume too much, as they remain slightly toxic.

- Germination and sowing seeds:

• The best period to sow wisteria is in March or early April.
• Stratify the seeds naturally by leaving them outside during the winter, or artificially by placing them in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks before germination.
• Sow them in small pots filled with horticultural potting soil.
• Bury the seeds flat under 1/2 cm of substrate.
• Water the culture gently with a hand sprayer.
• Place the pots in a greenhouse at a temperature near 25°C.
• Germination will generally begin 3 to 5 weeks after planting.

- Type of soil / substrate:

Wisteria is a beautiful, twining vine that is not very demanding regarding soil type; it grows very easily everywhere and in any substrate.

- Exposure / light:

The base of the wisteria plant should always remain in the shade, while its foliage, on the other hand, should be exposed to full sun.

- Temperature / hardiness:

Wisteria is very hardy and easily resists temperatures as low as -20°C. It is classified in USDA zone 4.
It grows rapidly when temperatures range from 20 to 30°C.

- Watering:

Wisteria needs to "suffer" a little to bloom abundantly; therefore, it should not be watered except during planting.

- Propagation:

The best way to reproduce wisteria is by sowing seeds. It is also possible to propagate it by cuttings or by layering.

- Pests / diseases:

Wisteria does not seem to attract pests or diseases. It is a very resilient plant against all types of pest attacks.

- Maintenance:

The collection of its leaves should be done during the autumn period. It is also possible to prune its stems during this same period.