Fragrant Wisteria Varieties

Japanese

• Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) is one of the the two most commonly grown ornamental wisterias in the U.S. As its name suggests, this 35-foot-long vine is native to Japan. Japanese wisteria climb by twining clockwise and have foliage with 13 to 19 leaflets. They bloom in spring with pendulous clusters or aromatic blossoms in a range of colors. White-flowering cultivars include Alba, Issai Perfect, Longissima Alba, and Shiro Noda. Pink varieties include Carnea, Donimic, Kuchibeni, Reindeer, Rosea, and Rubra. Purple-blue blossoming cultivars include Issai, Lawrence, Longissima, Macrobotrys, Praecox, Pupurea, and Violacea Plena.

Chinese

• The other most commonly grown species in the U.S., Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) grows very quickly from 30 to 50 feet long. This twining Chinese native has foliage with seven to 13 leaflets and blooms in spring with a profusion of highly aromatic white, blue or purple flowers, though plants may need to grow for at least four years before they flower. The Alba cultivar produces very fragrant white blossoms. Black Dragon and Plena both produce purple double blossoms while Purpuera and Caroline produce light purple flowers.

Kentucky

• Native to North America, Kentucky wisteria (W. macrostachya) grows at a moderate rate and prefers sunny sites. Kentucky wisteria blooms in late spring with fragrant, 8- to 12-inch clusters of purple and yellow flowers. Cultivars include Aberville Blue and Pondside Blue, which produce light purple-blue flowers, and Clap Mack, which blooms with white blossoms.

American

• American wisteria (W. fruitescens) is native to the southeastern U.S. Like the other North American wisteria species, it grows at a moderate rate and climbs by twining. American wisteria grows to 30 feet long and blooms with aromatic, mauve-toned blossoms with yellow spots. Cultivars of this sun-loving vine include the white-flowering Alba and Nivea, purple-flowering Amethyst Falls and Swantly Purple, and blue-flowering Magnifica.

Silky

• An Asian native, Silky wisteria (W. venusta) grows quickly to 30 feet long. Silky wisteria produces the largest flowers of any vine in the genus. Its fragrant flowers are white with a yellow marking and open all at the same time in the spring. Cultivars include Alba, which blooms with white, double flowers, and Violacea, which produces purple blossoms.