What soil does Japanese wisteria grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Japanese wisteria hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Japanese wisteria flower?

Flowering: April–May, purple, blue, pink, white.

How much water does Japanese wisteria need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Japanese wisteria cost?

It sells for roughly €27 to €1,000 in local shops, depending on size.

Japanese wisteria

Wisteria floribunda

Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is a climber. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €27.

Illustration of Japanese wisteria — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A long-lived climbing shrub with long, scented, hanging flower clusters in spring, at its best on a pergola or a sturdy arbour. It climbs by twining stems and the trunk grows as thick as an arm, so give it a massive, well-anchored support (stout timber, steel tube or a heavy-duty wire system) in a warm, sunny spot. It needs pruning twice a year, and it pays to buy a grafted plant, because seedlings can take well over ten years to flower.

Watch out for

Its strong twining stems crush whatever they wrap around: gutters, downpipes, railings and lightning conductors, and they also grow under roof tiles and into gaps. Keep it at least two metres away from eaves and downpipes and prune it in summer and again in late winter. The early flower buds can be killed by late spring frost, leaving few flowers that year. Flowering can also fail in shade, after pruning at the wrong time or on seed-raised plants. Old grafted plants occasionally die at the graft union, and scale insects can attack it.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 8 m × 5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, purple, blue, pink, white

Group	Climber
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	8 m × 5 m
Ultimate size	3–15 m × 1.2–10 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, purple, blue, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	400 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €27

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
100-125 cm	approx. €290
125-150 cm	approx. €970
150-175 cm	approx. €55
175-200 cm	approx. €87
size not stated	approx. €27

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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