Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC.

Chinese Wisteria

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Chinese Wisteria is an introduced, invasive, perennial, woody vine in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to China but has been widely planted around the world as an ornamental. In Alabama it can be found state wide. Chinese Wisteria occurs on roadsides, around old home sites, in urban forests, and in disturbed woodlands. It is a woody vine climbing by twining on other vegetation. Stems may reach lengths of 90 feet or more. It forms extensive colonies by root sprouts and from stems which root when they contact the soil. Young stems are short pubescent but become glabrous. Older stems have thin, pale grayish brown bark. The deciduous leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately compound with 7-13 leaflets. The leaflets are ovate to lanceolate in outline, slightly pubescent to glabrous, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in drooping racemes before or with the leaves. Individual flowers are produced on short stalks. The flowers are papilionaceous and either blue, purple, or white in color. The standard petal is marked with white and yellow. The flowers are heavily scented. The fruit is a pubescent legume with usually 1-4 seed. Chinese Wisteria often kills the plants in climbs on. All parts of the plant are toxic. Chinese Wisteria is listed as a Category 1 Invasive species by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council. Once established it is difficult to eradicate.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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