The Wisteria vine is known for its gorgeous, fragrant blossoms and its vigorous growth rate. In the spring, Wisteria can turn an arbor or pergola into something out of a fairytale or transform an ordinary wall into a waterfall of flowers. However, to grow and bloom so extravagantly, it needs the right conditions. How should you plant Wisteria for best results?
Wisteria should be planted in full sun with room to spread out and something to climb. Plant Wisteria to face south or west because these plants have trouble blooming without at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Leave at least 15 feet between your Wisteria plants.
If you’re thinking about planting Wisteria, the most important considerations are what the Wisteria will be climbing, how much pruning it will need, and ensuring it will get enough sun. It’s also a good idea to choose a sheltered spot if you have very cold winters. Keep reading to learn exactly where and when to plant Wisteria.
What Does Wisteria Need to Thrive?
When considering where to plant your new Wisteria, you need to make sure that the location you choose will continue to give your plant what it needs to thrive well into the future. These are speedy growers so they need plenty of space and plenty of sun. Below is a list of what it takes for your Wisteria to really thrive.
- At least six hours of sun.
- Well-drained soil; ideally moist, moderately fertile loam that is neutral to slightly acidic. However, most soil types work for Wisteria. (More on Wisteria soil here!)
- At least an inch of rain every two to three weeks (more during the first year after planting); you generally don’t need to water Wisteria unless there is a drought or it’s pretty dry where you live.
- Zone 5 to 9 climate.
- Something to climb, such as a very sturdy pergola, arbor, trellis, fence, or wall lined with a lattice of wire. (Find more on Wisteria climbing here.)
- A sheltered location to protect it from severe cold.
- Proper pruning to keep it from spreading out of control and to encourage blooming.
How Much Sun Should a Wisteria Have?
Wisteria should be planted in full sun. However, you can also grow it in partial sun as long as it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunshine every day. Chinese Wisteria and American Wisteria tolerate partial shade better than Japanese Wisteria, which really needs full sun.
Sunlight is most important for the upper parts of the vine. It’s ok for the bottom to get some shade, especially the base of the plant. Without enough sun on its top branches, your Wisteria will struggle to bloom.
To ensure your Wisteria will get enough sun, it’s best to plant it on a south- or west-facing aspect. If you are training Wisteria up a wall, don’t choose an east or north wall. Those faces just don’t get enough sun, and you’ll be risking having the Wisteria fail to bloom. Wisteria is difficult to transplant, so it’s important to get the location right the first time.
Will a Wisteria Grow and Bloom in the Shade?
The problem with growing Wisteria in a shady spot is that it may not bloom. The plant can grow in partial shade conditions (though it may not be as vigorous or reach its full growth potential as it would in full sun), but when it comes time to bloom, you may see few if any blossoms. And flowers are the main reason for growing Wisteria, right?
Getting Wisteria to bloom is one of the most common problems people have with this garden favorite. While there are several reasons your Wisteria might not be blooming, not enough sun is one of the most common. Other reasons include young or old age, incorrect pruning, cold damage, and excess nitrogen from fertilizer.
To ensure that your Wisteria will bloom, plant it in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight every day, preferably in the afternoon. But, ideally, you would plant your Wisteria in full sun. To learn more about Wisteria blooms, read this article.
How Much Space Does a Wisteria Need?
Wisteria is known for its size and high-speed growth, so you should allow plenty of space for your vine to spread out. If other plants are too close, you’ll have to prune constantly to keep the Wisteria from smothering them and taking over.
Wisteria can grow to 30 feet tall and 100 feet long or more. In fact, it’s related to kudzu, another prolific grower. A famous Wisteria plant in California covers more than an acre and has been growing for 100 years.
Since Wisteria is a climbing vine, it mainly spreads over things it can climb on. That means you don’t have to worry too much about putting small plants, such as bulbs, near the base of the Wisteria. Trees and shrubs, on the other hand, should be at least several feet away.
You may also want to keep some distance between your Wisteria and your house. Wisteria can look gorgeous climbing the side of a house, but it can also cover windows and get behind shutters, in gutters, and under roof tiles, causing damage to the building.
Because Wisteria gets so large, most people only need one, or possibly two, Wisteria plants. One Wisteria is generally enough to climb a trellis or pergola. If you want Wisteria to cover an arbor, it’s a good idea to plant one vine on each side of it, but this is just to create a uniform appearance.
To cover a larger area (such as a fence) with Wisteria, plant the vines 10 to 20 feet apart so that they have plenty of room to spread out and don’t crowd each other. Be sure that anything you want Wisteria to climb on is very sturdy. Wisteria can get really heavy as it matures and the stems thicken. A flimsy arch or trellis won’t hold its weight for long. To learn more about training your Wisteria to climb, click here.
When to Plant a Wisteria
The best time for planting Wisteria is in the early spring or late fall. You can even plant in winter if your climate allows, just not during the growing season.
If you have very cold winters, it’s better to plant in the spring so that the Wisteria has a whole growing season to get established before the stress of winter hits. However, if you have mild winters, it can be better to plant in the fall so that the Wisteria is settled and ready to leaf out and grow when spring comes.
Wisteria can be slow to leaf out the first year after planting and usually takes two to five years to bloom. It needs some time to establish its root system. If you start the Wisteria from seed, it will take even longer to bloom, sometimes decades. It’s usually best to get a grafted vine from a nursery.
Caring for Your Wisteria Plant
Once you’ve got your Wisteria planted in a good spot, with plenty of space to climb and six or more hours of sun every day, it doesn’t need much more from you to grow. In fact, the main thing you’ll probably need to do is prune.
Pruning Wisteria keeps it from getting too big, helps to train it where you want it to grow, and encourages blooming. You should prune twice a year, once in summer and once in winter or early spring. Cut back the green whippy shoots to just a few inches of new growth, leaving a few buds on each.
Putting down some mulch, compost, or fertilizer every year or so can help keep Wisteria happy by renewing nutrients in the soil. If you use fertilizer, choose one that’s low in nitrogen, otherwise, your Wisteria may be too busy growing foliage to bloom. Wisteria can do just fine without fertilizer, but sometimes phosphorus-based fertilizer can encourage blooming. Read more on fertilizing Wisteria here.
Putting it All Together
Wisteria needs at least six hours of afternoon sunlight to bloom, so it’s best to plant your Wisteria on the south or west side of your house or garden. If you’re planting several Wisteria vines, leave about 15 feet of space between them so that they have room to grow freely and unencumbered, without fear of your Wisteria overtaking any structures or other plants. Wisteria should be planted in spring or fall while it is dormant to have an entire growing season to establish a good root system.