Wisteria sinensis

Wisteria sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese wisteria, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, native to China, in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. Growing 20–30 m (66–98 ft) tall, it is a deciduous vine. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its twisting stems and masses of scented flowers in hanging racemes, in spring.

Description

A vigorous climber. It grows 12-18 m long. The trunks are twisted and gnarled. The twining stems turn woody. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are about 11 alternate leaflets that are oval and untoothed. The leaves are mid to dark green. The flowers are mauve and hang in 30 cm long racemes. These are on small spur like growths. The flowers are pea shaped and droop. The pods are oblong and velvety.

Edible Uses

The seeds can be cooked, though some caution is advised — see the notes on toxicity. The flowers are thoroughly washed and then boiled or made into fritters; they are also cured in sugar, mixed with flour, and made into a traditional delicacy called 'Teng Lo'. The leaves contain allantoic acid and are used as a tea substitute. Young leaves have also been eaten.

Traditional Uses

The flower buds are thoroughly boiled and washed in salt water and eaten with oil and salt. They can be parboiled or fried. They are folded into egg batter and made into fritters. They can be used in preserves and made into wine. The leaves are used as a substitute for tea.

Medicinal Uses

The seed is diuretic and is used in the treatment of heart ailments. One report notes that the stems and flowers are also used in Chinese medicine, but provides no further detail.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It will grow in most soils. It is resistant to frost and drought. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Arboretum Tasmania. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, China*, Europe, France, Hawaii, India, Japan, Mediterranean, Myanmar, North America, Pakistan, SE Asia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tasmania, USA,

Cultivation

Many plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed germinate easily. They can also be grown from cuttings.

Propagation

Seed has no dormancy requirements and can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, germinating in spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water before sowing in a greenhouse in early spring. Seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in late spring; germination usually occurs in the first spring but may be delayed a further 12 months. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame for the first winter, then plant out in late spring or early summer. Plants grown from seed are very slow and can take up to 20 years to flower. Basal cuttings of side-shoots can be taken in early to mid summer once new growth has hardened sufficiently, each with 2–3 leaves. Removing a shallow slice of bark from the bottom 15mm of the cutting exposes extra cambium and encourages better callusing and rooting. In a mist frame with bottom heat of 27–30°C, cuttings will root within 4 weeks and produce well-established plants by autumn. Layering in spring is also effective: lay a long shoot along the ground, cover with a shallow layer of soil, and it will produce roots at intervals along the stem. Once roots are well formed, the shoot can be divided into several plants, potted up, and kept in a lightly shaded greenhouse until established before planting out. Named varieties should be grown on their own roots before dividing suckers in winter, to ensure the divisions are true to type.

Other Uses

A fibre from the stems can be used to make paper; the fibre measures approximately 1.3–3.7mm in length. Stems are harvested in summer, the leaves removed, and the stems steamed until the fibre can be stripped. The fibres are then cooked for 2 hours with lye and put in a ball mill for 3 hours, producing a buff-coloured paper. The plant is also a nitrogen fixer.

Production

It is fast growing.

Notes

There are 10 Wisteria species. The seeds and flowers are used in medicine. It can be invasive.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Dišeča glicinija, Tengluo, Ziteng

References (19)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 689
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 110
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 1028
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 1063
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1487

More from Fabaceae

🌱

Inga pavonina

Guamillo

Inga pilosa

Uribe inga

Inga plumifera

Feathery inga

Inga poeppigiana

Poeppig inga

Inga pruriens

Irritant inga

Inga quaternata