General information on "Asian" Wisteria

FassadenGrün helps you to select Wisteria from our range. The term "Asian" wisteria is used here to describe the types that have been cultivated in China and Japan for centuries, i.e. all wisteria from Asia. We are particularly interested in their use on façades. They are the most widespread and offer maximum colour, abundance of flowers and vigour! At the same time, they need a lot of pruning and shaping. This is not everyone's cup of tea, which is why we offer "American" Wisteria as an alternative.

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(Wisteria sinensis // Wisteria floribunda // Wisteria brachybotrys)

Chinesischer Blauregen Ende April
Chinese Wisteria end of April

To Thrive...

Warm, somewhat wind-protected, sunny locations. Poorer flowering in partial shade. Deep, humus-rich soil with a good water supply. Distance between plants: 3 - 8 m.

Properties

Strong, healthy and vigorous twining plants up to 20 metres tall. Feathery leaves, foliage from May to November, some varieties with yellow autumn colouring. With good pruning, lush main flowering in spring (April to May) from the flower buds of the previous year. The flowers are said to be edible as scalloped "doughnuts", at least in the Chinese varieties such as "Prolific". (Information without guarantee). Post-flowering in summer is very pronounced in some types, but almost non-existent in others. Grey-green, hairy and poisonous legumes.

Growth vigour

"Asian" Wisteria have a problem... In 2017, Dave Creech from the SFA Arboretum / USA wrote: "A wisteria can quickly become a monster if left unattended for a long time - e.g. overnight". How so? Young wisteria are "green octopuses" - the shoots have a radius of action of more than 1 metre and grow light-flying in cracks, crevices etc.. As they grow thicker, components are then crushed and a blasting effect can occur in crevices. Inadequate training and care can cause considerable structural damage!

 

Constant monitoring

Lightning conductors, downpipes, gutters, ventilation openings and joints must therefore not be covered, which means that "Asian" Wisteria need supervision. If constant supervision is not possible, climbing aids should have a preventive distance of 2 metres from all the components mentioned and from the edge of the roof, both sideways and upwards.

Training with only one trunk

All varieties in this group grow strongly, but can also be "squeezed" into small shapes with consistent training, as required by the situation. For the sake of clarity, it is best to build up a sparse trunk framework with only one shoot, similar to grapevines. Individual strands, i.e. vertical and horizontal "spindles" or angular forms, each with many short side branches, which are then shortened back to "cones" every year, see below, have proved successful. However, fan shapes analogous to grapevines are also possible.

Training with multiple strains

To get even more flowers, several shoots are often cultivated as a bunch. This also looks decorative! However, the shoots strangle each other as they grow thicker, which often leads to the death of individual shoots. These then become dry dead wood and form a fire load on the wall. For this reason, multi-shoot training is reserved for the private sector (constant supervision!).

Summer cut

Pruning once or several times in summer slows down the development of foliage, especially in young Wisteria. This usually reduces after 5 - 15 years, which then makes summer pruning easier. Pruning can be carried out from June onwards, but also later if necessary to avoid cutting off the precious post-flowers of some varieties. The aim is to shorten all shoots that are not required to lengthen the trunk framework to approx. 30 cm in late summer. The flower buds will then develop better at the bottom of the shoots for the following year.

Winter cut

In winter, a kind of "spur pruning" is carried out in the same way as for vines. The shoots, which have already been shortened to approx. 30 cm, are pruned again so that almost only round flower buds remain. There are then approx. 3 buds per shoot, see also the photos below. Side branches that would scratch the façade plaster if the spindles were twisted slightly by the wind are cut away completely, especially on façades with sensitive insulation (ETICS).

Climbing Supports for the Facade

Stable, preferably stick-like trellises, adapted to the height and width of growth. Rather linear, less extensive, preferably no wooden trellises. The 10 mm series is suitable. Wire ropes are suitable if the structure is set up with "parallel trunk guidance" or with a "lost rope" as described in the photos below. For ropes, preferably heavy / massive kits. Medium "Classic" kits and simple "Basic" kits may be used in private gardens (constant supervision) and for potted plants. See below for suitable arrangements of rods and ropes.

 

Appropriate wire rope systems?

Please click the icon to see the full suitability chart

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Training, Pruning and Building Damage

This picture gallery shows examples.

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"Asian" Wisteria on rods

Strong rods and stainless steel tubes are well suited, whereas wooden trellises are not, as the photos show...

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"Asian" Wisteria on ropes

Wisteria are extremely strong and can destroy almost any climbing aid. Prevention is possible with the "parallel trunk guide" or a "lost rope"...

Wire Rope Systems compatible with "Asian" Wisteria

Please click on the graphic illustrations for details!

  = suitable            = of limited suitability            = unsuitable