Practical
Plants

Wisteria sinensis

Chinese Wisteria

a deciduous member of the Wisteria genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
moderate
Height
25 m
Spread
20 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed of all members of this genus is poisonous[13]. The bark contains a glycoside and a resin that are both poisonous[15]. The seed and seedpod contains a resin and a glycoside called wisterin. They have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastro-enteritis[17].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - cooked[1][5][9]. Some caution is advised, see notes on toxicity at the top of the page. Flowers - cooked. They are thoroughly washed and then boiled or made into fritters[1][5][7][9]. The flowers are also cured in sugar then mixed with flour and made into a famous local delicacy called 'Teng Lo'[17]. The leaves contain allantoic acid[15]. They are used as a tea substitute[15]. The young leaves have also been eaten[17].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is diuretic[6][15]. It is used in the treatment of heart ailments[6][15]. One report says that the stems and flowers are also used in Chinese medicine, but gives no more information[17].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Diuretic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre from the stems can be used to make paper, the fibre is about 1.3 - 3.7mm long[12]. Stems are harvested in the summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed until the fibre can be stripped. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then put in a ball mill for 3 hours. The paper is a buff colour[12].

Product or use
Paper

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China. Locally naturalized in Europe in France[19].
Habitat
Clambering over cliffs and trees on woodland edges at low altitudes in W. China[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed does not exhibit any dormancy habits. It can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame and should germinate in the spring. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in late spring[4]. Germination should take place in the first spring, though it can sometimes be delayed for another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Plants are very slow from seed and can take up to 20 years to come into flower[13]. Basal cuttings of side-shoots in early to mid summer in a frame[13]. Take the cuttings as soon as the new growth has hardened sufficiently, each cutting should have 2 - 3 leaves[17]. It can also help to remove a shallow slice of bark from the bottom 15mm of the cutting to expose extra cambium, since this will encourage more callusing and better rooting[17]. When kept in a mist frame with a bottom heat of 27 - 30°c, they will root within 4 weeks and produce well-established plants by the autumn[17]. Layering in spring. Simply lay any convenient long shoot along the ground and cover it with a shallow layer of soil. The shoot will readily produce roots at intervals along the stem. When these are well formed, the shoot can be divided up into a number of plants. These should be potted up and kept in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until well established and can then be planted out as required. Division of suckers in the winter[17]. If growing named varieties, it is of course necessary to ensure they are growing on their own roots if the suckers are to be true to type[17].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good loamy soil in a sunny south or south-west facing position, sheltered from cold winds and from early morning sun on frosty mornings[3][13]. Succeeds in partial shade. Plants can become chlorotic on alkaline soils[13]. A soil that is too rich results in excessive foliage at the expense of flowering[13]. Hardy to about -15°c[10][13]. Plants can take a few years to settle down after planting out[16]. Too much shade or too rich a soil are normally the culprits, some form of root restriction can be beneficial[16]. There are several named forms selected for their ornamental value[11]. Sparrows and other birds frequently eat the young buds of this plant and this is the commonest cause of poor flowering on established plants[10]. Plants sometimes have a second season of flowering in August[16]. The plants flower mainly on short spurs so, if removing unwanted side-branches, it is best to cut them back to 2 - 3 leaves rather than removing them completely since this will encourage the formation of flowering spurs[17]. Any drastic pruning is best carried out in the spring, immediately after flowering[17]. Plants are very tolerant of even the most drastic pruning and will re-grow even if cut right back to the base[17]. A climbing plant supporting itself by twining around other plants, the shoots twine in an anticlockwise direction[8]. Very tolerant of pruning, plants can regenerate from old wood[14]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[13]. Closely related to W. floribunda[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[13]. The plants also form a symbiotic relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus which makes more water, phosphorus and other minerals available to the plants[17].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. Royal Horticultural Society 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

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  8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  11. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  12. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  14. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

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  15. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Valder. P. Wisterias: a comprehensive guide. Florilegium. Australia. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-646-22049-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13

  18. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  19. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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