This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. Although it may be slow to establish, Japanese wisteria is aggressive and invasive in North Carolina, due to its rampant growth and rooting surface runners (stolons). It is a woody deciduous vine that twines in a clockwise direction (see diagram on Wisteria page) and requires sturdy support and regular pruning. The stems can twine along a support up to 10 to 25 feet or more or can be trained as a shrub or small tree. Bright green compound pinnate leaves have 15 to 19 leaflets, and 12- to 18-inch long, drooping clusters (racemes) of pink to purple, pea-shaped, very fragrant flowers. These flowers bloom from the base of clusters to the tip as the leaves emerge in spring. After flowering, pendant velvety seed pods about 6 inches long ripen in fall, sometimes persisting into winter. Japanese Wisteria can withstand both wet and dry soils. It can create very dense thickets by twining and covering over shrubs and trees. The stems root wherever the nodes touch the ground. Wildlife does not utilize this plant because the seed size is very large. The seeds are dispersed by water. It is shade intolerant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Due to its aggressive growth, this plant is very high maintenance once established, native alternatives should be considered. The seeds are poisonous. More information on Wisteria .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Similar, less problematicClematis x hybridaLonicera x brownii
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Vine
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
12-15" long, bright green compound pinnate leaves with 15-19 leaflets alternately arranged on 4"-16" stalks. Emerging leaves can be red-tinged.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Edible; Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are 12"-18" long in drooping clusters (racemes) of pink to purple pea-shaped, very fragrant flowers, blooming from the base of the cluster to outward tip as leaves emerge in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
After flowering, flattened pendant velvety seed pods 2 1/2"-6" inches long containg 1-8 seeds ripen from mid summer into fall, sometimes persisting into winter. Raw seeds are poisonous but can be eaten once properly cooked.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Light Brown
Bark detail
Dark gray with white dots, can reach a diameter of 10". Older trunks can develop a fluted and a muscle-like form, which can be attractive.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Stem colors may include green and gray and can reach a diameter of up to several inches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Flowers; Seeds; Stems
Harvest time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Edibility
The seeds can be eaten ONLY once cooked. Young leaves are commonly cooked and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked (stems removed). However, exercise caution as they are similar to other poisonous wisteria species.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Bark can be used to make ropes and sandals. Branches are used for creating bridge cables.