Wisteria sinensis is a vigorous, deciduous climber which provides a spectacular floral display in Spring.
The fragrant, pendulous racemes (approx 300mm long) of pea-like,lavender/blue flowers appear before the leaves and develop into bean-like seedpods.
The leaves are pinnate and pale green.
You have to be careful what support you choose, as Wisterias can twine around and crush/strangle their supports.
They are wonderful when grown over a dead tree trunk and also look great on fences, verandahs, pergolas or as a weeping standard on a very strong pole and frame.
Chinese Wisteria are frost hardy but the new flowers can be damaged by late frosts.
A new vine will take around 3-4 years to start flowering, but from then on you will be increasingly pleased with the next year's flower production.