Welcome, avid readers. Are you seeking knowledge about wisterias and how to grow it from seeds to very beautiful flowers? Then you are at the right place. Your search ends here.
In this article, I will explain about wisteria seeds and different kinds of wisterias. I will also tell you how to grow wisteria from seeds. Not only that I will also tell you the uses and benefits of wisterias and wisteria seeds and how much they add to your garden.
So, let’s begin our journey!
What is Wisteria Plant?
Wisteria belongs to flowering plants of the pea family, Fabaceae, which refers to woody vines and shrubs which grow naturally in the Eastern United States, East Asia, and Australia.
It is a deciduous vine, famous for its delightful summer or autumn display of feathery clusters of blue-purple, lavender-pink, pink or white flowers. It propagates by producing Wisteria seeds contained in pods.
Following are the few key points about Wisteria plant:
| Name | Wisteria |
| Type | Woody Vine (A climber plant) |
| Family | Pea Family, Fabaceae |
| Flower | Bluish-purple, lavender, pink, or white flowers |
| Blooming | Spring or Early Summer |
| Seed Pods | Elongated, bean-shaped |
| Seed Pods Color | Start as Green—–Turn brown upon maturity |
| Seeds (in pod) | Flattened, oval shaped |
| Seed color | Brown |
What do Wisteria seeds look like?
The seeds of wisteria are produced in dry capsules like pods which appear after the plant has bloomed. Each pod contains many seeds.
Appearance: The seeds are mostly brown in color and rather small, with an oval and flattened shape. They are quite hard and are very resistant to extreme weather conditions.
Wisteria Seed Pods:
These seed pods, referred as seed capsules or keys, are the body enclosed structures of the plant that contain seeds inside.
Here are some characteristics and information about wisteria seed pods:
Appearance: These pod are elongated and bean-shaped. They can range in length from a few inches long and up to several inches depending on the particular species and the type of plant.
Color and Texture: These pods start as green and fleshy structures which develop after the plant’s flowers have been pollinated. When they mature, they turn brown and the capsules get dry and look like paper.
Location: These seed pods grow at the base of the flower on the plant. They grow in clusters and are found hanging around the vine or branches.
Seed Production: Each seed pod has its fair share of seeds. The number of seeds in pod can vary but it is always more than one in the pod but less than or equal to five.
Season: They form in late summer or in the fall.
Uses: Other than propagation, these pods are also used for crafts or floral arrangements as well. See more about this down below.
To sum it up, wisteria seed pods are essential structures in the plant life cycle and highly important for the distribution of seeds for the new generation of wisterias.
Click here to read more: Wisteria Seed Pods
Types of Wisteria
Wisterias belong to the Fabaceae family and come in many different species, along with numerous cultivars with distinct features and behavior.
Following are some common types:
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda):
- Characteristics: Clusters of long fragrant flowers which are white to bluish-purple in color.
- Habit: Fast growing plant that can spread rather far and reach tall distances if not controlled.
- Cultivars: Popular cultivars are
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- Alba (white flower)
- Macrobotrys (long cluster of flowers) and
- Royal Purple (deep purple flowers).
Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis):
- Characteristics: It resembles the Japanese wisteria but normally has less number of clusters of flowers in each branch.
- Habit: A vine withs a high tendency to grow and spread.
- Cultivars: Popular cultivars are
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- Amethyst
- Cooke’s Purple and
- Prolific
American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens):
- Characteristics: It is resembles the species from Asia but is native only to southeastern USA and has more compact inflorescence.
- Habit: Although with not as aggressive nature and not as large as Japanese and Chinese Wisteria, it is still a rather large vine when mature.
- Cultivars: Popular cultivars is
-
- ‘Amethyst Falls’ which is recognized for growing to a much smaller size and blooms earlier than the others.
Silky Wisteria (Wisteria brachybotrys):
- Characteristics: It is indigenous to the island country of Japan, characterized by tasty hairs on the juvenile stem as well as on the undersurface of the leaf lamina.
- Habit: Small or dwarf species grow slightly more compact than most of other wisterias.
- Cultivars: Popular cultivars are
-
-
- Shiro Kapitan (white flowers)
-
- Okayama (pale violet flowers)
Korean Wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya):
- Characteristics: A species that originated in the United States and a plant with short and compacted head of flowers.
- Habit: Perennials that are extremely cold hardy and are best suited for growth in colder temperate regions.
- Cultivars: Popular cultivars are
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- Blue Moon’ which is characterized by cold climate adaptability and the shade of blue to purple flowers.
There are certain advantages and differences in wisteria types that can be beneficial depending on climate, space and the desired look.
How to plant and grow wisterias from seed:
Propagation by seeds is useful for wisteria growing and also quite involving because of the various dormancy factors associated with seeds.
Following are the few steps on how to grow wisteria from seed you need to follow:
Collecting Seeds:
- Timing: In the late summer or early autumn, there will be small, brown, bean-like structures extending from the vines when seed pods mature. And this is the best time to harvest the seeds.
- Harvesting: Harvest them using a sharp pair of scissors or a pruning shear by making clean cuts around the base of the seed pods. Handle them gently to avoid damaging them.
- Extracting Seeds: After drying them, open them to extract the seeds from the pods. The seeds of wisteria are dark brown in color and hard. It may be helpful to scarify the seeds – this means that with a sharp object that you need to lightly scratch or nick the seed coat.
Germinating Wisteria Seeds:
- Scarification: After harvesting, the seeds should be scarified by sanding the seed with sand paper or by making a small incision on the seed coat. This process aids in the infiltration of water and other fluids into the hard outer layer of the seed, thus causing germination.
- Stratification: Many wisteria species need to undergo stratification to break dormancy. When the seeds are scarified, put them in a container containing perlite or peat moss. Seal the container in a plastic bag or cover it with plastic material to allow it retain its moisture.
- Cold Treatment: Store of the container in a refrigerator approximately at 4-5°C (39-41°F). Keep the seeds in cold environment for roughly 3 to 4 months. This mimics the winter conditions that naturally break dormancy
- Pre-Planting Preparation: After stratification, it is advisable to move seeds to warm water for 24 hours. This further promotes germination.
Planting the seeds:
- Container or Seed Tray: Fill the tray with potting mix that has well drainage system.
- Planting Depth: Plant the seeds 1 inch below the surface of the soil. Sow one or two seeds per pot or cell, depending on the size of the pot or desired amount of plants.
- Location: Make sure pot is facing full sun for optimal output.
- Watering: Ensure the soil does not dry out nor become saturated with water. When watering, it is recommended to use a spray bottle, so as not to wash away the seeds.
Care after Germination:
- Transplanting: Once the seedlings have grown few leaves, it is safe to transfer the young plants to larger pots or the garden.
- Support: Wisteria is a climber plant. Therefore, ensure that the young plant is planted and has a structure it can climb as it is growing.
- Maintenance: Keep watering the young plants regularly and ensure they are exposed to adequate light. These plants are started growing vigorously once they get established and out compete all other plants around them.
Patience:
Propagation of wisteria by seeds may be challenging since germination is slow, and takes some time to grow into mature plants. Vine takes up to three years before it starts flowering, but it is very enjoyable to watch the vine grow healthy and produce flowers.
When to plant wisteria seeds?
If you want to plant wisteria, it is ideal to know when the best time to plant the seed is.
Planting Time: The best time to plant these seeds is in spring after the last frost date in your area. Seeds benefit from warm soil and sunlight which are ideal for successful germination and early growth.
Indoor Planting: If you are keen on planting the seeds indoors, then you can plant them 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area for head start. When the temperature has warmed up, you can transfer them to open ground for further growth.
Wisteria Seeds Benefits and Uses
Wisteria seeds have several potential benefits and uses, both practical and ornamental:
1) Propagation:
- One of the main use of these seeds is for planting purposes. Gardeners and lovers of plants usually collect seeds from the mature plant to propagate new ones. This enables them to replicate particular strains or increase the size of their collection.
2) Ornamental Value:
- Pods of Wisteria can themselves be decorative. These are usually attractive and can be used in the dried flower arrangements or crafts that requires a dried plant material. They can be effectively used as accessories for bouquets and other kinds of flowers.
3) Wildlife Food:
- These seeds serve as food source for various wildlife organisms in natural environments. Birds, squirrel, and other animals ingest these seed and spread it to other areas, thus aiding in its growth.
4) Medicinal Uses:
- In traditional herbal medicines, this vine was used in some remedies. However, wisteria contains saponin which is toxic if ingested in large amount, therefore its use should be undertaken carefully and upon recommending from a professional.
5) Environmental Benefits:
- Compared to the other types of plants, wisteria is a flowering vine, thus serving an aesthetic purpose of designing the exterior with chains of flowers. In addition, it can also anchor soil and prevent frosted or burnt foliage damage on plants thus supporting the overall general wellbeing in gardens and other landscaping designs.
6) Educational and Research Purposes:
- These seeds are also beneficial in teaching modules for students as well as for plant reproduction and germination processes studies. They are commonly used as props in plant research studies and learning initiatives for studying plant development and plant reproduction.
Wisteria Seeds for Sale:
You can buy the seeds for sale from the online seed stores, some specific stores having vine plants and ornamental plants or get it from the local gardens that sell seeds or take cuttings.
- Online Seed Suppliers: There are a lot of online shops, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, etc where sellers put numerous seeds for sale, including wisteria seeds.
- Nurseries and Garden Centers: Large local nurseries, or garden centers might have these seeds in stock and available at the beginning of the planting season in spring. To make arrangements with them, it is advisable to visit or call them and ask about their schedule.
- Propagation from Existing Plants: You can obtain the seed from mature pods yourself during late summer or early autumn and propagate them on your own.
When purchasing any kind of seeds, consider the following tips:
- Seed Quality: Make sure that seeds are alive as possible to provide better germination rates. Check reviews of customers on seed quality before making a purchase.
- Variety: Wisteria has different types of species and cultivars which differentiates it when it comes to its features. Check the type of seeds that you are using to ensure they are the same type which you want to propagate for desire result.
Conclusion:
Propagation by wisteria seeds may be challenging since germination is slow, and takes some time to grow into mature plants. Vine takes up to three years before it starts flowering, but it is very enjoyable to watch the vine grow healthy and produce flowers.
If you have any question regarding wisterias or you want us to write about your plant of interest, you can comment down below to let us know.
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FAQs
Are Wisteria seeds poisonous to dogs?
Yes, these seed are only poisonous if taken in large amount. Wisteria contains saponin which is toxic if ingested in large amount
How long does wisteria seeds take to bloom from seeds?
Wisteria are slow to mature and take 2-3 years to bloom.
What to do with wisteria pods?
Make sure you cut the pods before maturing if you don’t want to grow more wisterias in your well planted garden. When the pods mature, they sprout the seeds around the plant casing more wisterias to grow.
