About Chinese Wisteria
Chinese wisteria is a woody, twining vine that can grow to be more than 40 feet tall when using support structures, such as scaffolding or trees. From May to June, Chinese wisteria is covered with beautiful hanging purple flowers.
This perennial can self-sow by seed in addition to sending out runners, so it can be difficult to keep its growth in check. Individual plants can survive 50 years or more, constantly expanding and overrunning nearby vegetation.
Wisteria can be found in several botanical gardens and national parks throughout the US, where populations must be closely managed to prevent invasive spread. There have been many invasive plants identified as hybrids between Chinese wisteria and Japanese wisteria. However, despite its weed-like and destructive tendencies, Chinese wisteria remains a popular plant in nurseries and gardens.
Common Names:
- Chinese Wisteria
- Primavera
Chinese Wisteria at the Akron Zoo
The zoo maintains a single population of Wisteria, which grows over our Lehner Family Zoo Gardens pergola. Our Horticulture team can closely monitor its growth to prevent spread. The pergola is a favorite location for wedding pictures, especially from May to June when the wisteria is in bloom.