Texas Wisteria

Wisteria frutescens

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

American Wisteria, Kentucky Wisteria

Courtesy: Mathews, Ray, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=39783

Courtesy: Holmes, James Garland, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=56895

NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Native Habitat: Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Native habitat, in moist or wet woods; river banks; upland thickets. Prefers a good loamy soil in a sunny south or southwest facing position, sheltered from cold winds. High heat tolerance. Doesn’t do well on alkaline soils. Train on sturdy arbor, wall, column, etc. Prune to shape during winter dormancy.

Comments

Clockwise-twining, woody vine, with fragrant purple flowers. Blooms only on new wood, in 6″-9″ clusters. Shiny, dark-green, pinnately compound leaves bear 9-15 leaflets which are opposite on the leaf. Less aggressive than Chinese Wisteria, and more reliable blooming. Larval host to Marine Blue, Zarucco Duskywing, and Skippers.

Growth Form

Vine

Height

25 to

30 ft

Spread

1 to

2 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Neutral

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

White, Pink, Blue, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Kraunhia frutescens, Kraunhia macrostachya, Wisteria frutescens var. macrostachya, Wisteria macrostachya

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 362. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=WIFR. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Wisteria+frutescens&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=11957&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27021#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

Native Plant Society of Texas