Wisteria creates an outstanding splash of color in the spring garden with their sweet fragrance, especially when trained for bonsai. The autumn season brings a clear yellow foliage display. There are two main species commonly trained for bonsai, the Chinese and Japanese. In North America, the Chinese wisteria is the most popular. The primary differences between the Chinese and Japanese wisteria are the flowers, foliage and growth habit. There are over 100 different Wisteria cultivars selected for flower size, shape, color and fragrances. Some have been chosen for variegated leaves and different growth habits.
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis trained by Bob Blankfield
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis
The Chinese wisteria is most popular in North America, and many have naturalized in southern states. They can be invasive. Chinese wisteria blooms usually simultaneously, perhaps the reason for its popularity. Usually, the leaves appear during the late period of flowering. The flowers are much fuller than the Japanese species, and much shorter as well. Since they have naturalized in some areas it is easy to find old heavy trunks. They can be easily and quickly developed into pleasing bonsai. Very few if any small roots. Old overgrown Wisterias from the garden landscape are often dug, drastically pruned and trained for bonsai. The trunk wood tends to rot so there may be future design challenges.
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis trained from a collected wild stump
Japanese Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda
Japanese Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda
Japanese wisteria tends to have the upper part of the raceme without flowers (bare stalk), the middle section in full bloom and the lower section with unopened buds since the blossoms open from the top down. Sometimes it takes two weeks for the entire plant to blossom. Generally, they flower about a week after the Chinese species.
I have been growing both species for well over 50 years and have not found any difference in their training for bonsai and care. Although the training is identical for both species, most bonsai hobbyists probably are not certain (or care) which they have. Most Wisteria are probably mislabeled, but the beautiful and fragrant blosoms are the main reasons for enjoyment.
A reliable method to differentiate between Chinese and Japanese wisteria is to observe the foliage and the direction the vine grows, both are different.
Rokushaku Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda ‘Rokushaku’
Rokushaku Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda ‘Rokushaku’
The original cutting from Saichi Suzuki
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Rokushaku Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda ‘Rokushaku’
One of my favorite Wisteria cultivars is the Rokushaku Wisteria. The Japanese word “roku” means six, and “shaku” is an old Japanese measurement of about 12”, so the name means six feet long. Yes, this cultivar is supposed to have floral racemes six feet long! I have only been able to grow one measuring 57” in my garden.
This cultivar was given to me by the Japanese bonsai pioneer Saichi Suzuki who took cuttings from a plant in a nearby temple in Okazaki, Japan. Mr. Suzuki also introduced Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine over 50 years ago and pioneered the techniques for developing short needles on Japanese black pine bonsai in the late 1930s. His grandson, Toru is now the proprietor of Daiju-en Bonsai Garden and continues his father’s and grandfather’s excellence in bonsai. He will be one of the judges and demonstrators at the next 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York on September 13-14, 2025.
During a visit with him he graciously gave Chase Rosade and Lynn Porter who were traveling with me each a small cutting of his special Wisteria which was about the size of a chopstick. This was bout 50 years ago and I planted my cutting in my mother’s garden for a few years. After I married Diane we moved our garden, I transplanted it next to the “great wall” in our display garden The trunk has thickened considerably and is now over 18” in diameter, with considerable movement as well.
I have taken numerous cuttings of this cultivar and planted one young skinny specimen around the flagpole in front of our home about 30 years ago. In 2017 it produced a spectacular display for the first time. Wisterias tend to “show off” every couple of years. This spring it was my original cutting which presented a spectacular and fragrant display for our Spring Open House & Sale last weekend.
June 2023
June 2023
May 2024
June 2023
The garden specimen in front of our home has grown to about 15 feet in diameter and has been pruned many, many times. Last year in early June, in full leaf, my friends helped me to drastically prune the plant to look like a giant bonsai in the ground. During the decades the tree was leaning over to much for my taste, and we needed the help of a 4-wheel drive Ford pick-up truck with an orange cable to raise the tree and put it back on the flagpole. Certainly, neighbors and people who passed the naked tree thought I was crazy (perhaps they are correct.) By September the newly shaped Wisteria needed to be trimmed two times because it grew so vigorously. By the way, it has never been watered or fertilized. It now needs another haircut when we finish trimming the bonsai.
Amethyst Falls American Wisteria
American Wisteria Species
There are a couple of native North American wisteria species. The American Wisteria, Wisteria frutescens, has several named cultivars. The cultivar ‘Amethyst Falls’ is a popular garden vine in North America and is trained for bonsai. It is not as vigorous as other species, however, has shorter, smaller flowers which often bloom throughout the summer.
The Kentucky Wisteria, Wisteria macrostachya, is native to the southern states and often found in swamps from Louisiana north to Illinois. There are a few cultivars of the Kentucky Wisteria, but I have not had the opportunity to grow and train this species.
Dwarf Wisteria millettia japonica
Dwarf Wisteria millettia japonica
Summer Wisterias
There are a few Wisterias which bloom during the summer season, which are not actually in the Wisteria genus but rather Millettia. There are some other Millettias which are named “Natsu Fuji” and “Satsuma Fuji.”
Included within this grouping is Millettia japonica, which is grown for summer displays. Common names for this small-treasured jewel include “Dwarf Wisteria, “Ko Fuji (small,) “Hime Fuji” (princess) and “Mekura Fuji” (blind.) This cultivar is rarely seen in blossom, however Boon sent me a photo of one in blossom. I sent the photo to Japan and the response was “I would be a millionaire in Japan if I had one.” However, the Dwarf Wisteria is appreciated for the tiny, dainty foliage which looks identical to larger Wisterias. They are primarily displayed in the hot summer season because it presents a “cool feeling.” This is a great plant, if you can find it and will require another article to do it justice, perhaps in the future.
Chinese Wisteria
Chinese Wisteria, only 3 years in training from an old stump
Chinese Wisteria
Japanese Wisteria
Enjoy the beautiful, colorful fragrant flowers of your Wisteria when they flower later-on in spring!