Japanese Wisteria Wisteria floribunda f. multijuga

Names

• Family

  Fabaceae.

• Synonyms

  Japanese Wisteria, Floribunda Wisteria, Multijuga Wisteria.

• Common names

  Wisteria floribunda var. multijuga, Wisteria multijuga, Kraunhia multijuga, Millettia multijuga, Rehsonia multijuga.

Toxicity

• To humans

  Japanese wisteria is considered toxic to humans. All parts of the plant contain glycine, which can cause gastrointestinal problems if ingested. The seeds and pods are particularly poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it could potentially result in confusion, dizziness, or collapse. It is important to seek medical attention if ingestion is suspected.

• To pets

  Japanese wisteria is also toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. The plant contains compounds such as wisterin, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and depression when ingested. Particularly, the seeds and pods carry higher concentrations of these toxic substances. If pets consume any part of the plant, they might also exhibit other signs of toxicity like drooling and abdominal pain. In severe cases, ingestion can result in severe poisoning and even death. Pet owners should seek veterinary care immediately if they suspect their pet has consumed any part of a Japanese wisteria plant.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  Purple

• Height

  30 feet (9 meters)

• Spread

  50 feet (15 meters)

• Plant type

  Climber

• Hardiness zones

  5

• Native area

  Japan

General Benefits

• Aesthetic Appeal: Japanese wisteria, with its cascading clusters of violet-blue flowers, can add exceptional beauty to gardens and landscapes.
• Shade Provision: When grown over pergolas or arbors, it creates a dense canopy that can provide cooling shade in warmer months.
• Habitat for Wildlife: The plant can attract a variety of pollinators such as butterflies and bees, which is beneficial for the garden ecosystem.
• Scented Flowers: Japanese wisteria emits a pleasant, sweet fragrance that can enhance the sensory appeal of any outdoor space.
• Screening: It can be used to create living screens that provide privacy and reduce noise from surrounding areas.
• Vertical Gardening: This climber is ideal for vertical gardening, allowing the use of vertical space which is beneficial for small gardens.
• Seasonal Interest: It offers visual interest throughout the growing season, especially with its showy, long racemes in spring.
• Cultural Significance: The plant has a traditional significance in Japan, where it is often featured in art and festivals, contributing to cultural heritage gardens.

Medical Properties

This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• Wisteria can be used in furniture making, particularly in creating artistic and ornate pieces due to its durability and aesthetic appeal.
• The strong, twisted vines of wisteria can be used for grafting other plant species, allowing the horticulturists to create unique and hardy plant combinations.
• Wisteria's long vines can be woven into natural fencing or trellises, providing a support structure for other climbing plants in gardens.
• The wood of mature wisteria vines is sometimes utilized in the creation of small woodworking projects such as boxes or decorative carvings.
• Cultivated properly, wisteria can be trained to grow into natural arbors or shade structures, offering a living canopy in outdoor spaces.
• Wisteria has been used in the art of bonsai, where the plant is meticulously trained and pruned to create miniature landscapes.
• Dried wisteria seed pods can be used in arts and crafts, such as making rattles or adding a unique aesthetic to floral arrangements.
• During certain festivals in Japan, wisteria is used as a decorative element, with its cascading flowers symbolizing long life and immortality.
• In landscape architecture, wisteria is used to create picturesque scenes, with its vibrant blooms providing focal points in park settings and large estates.
• As a natural dye, the flowers and seed pods of the wisteria contain pigments that can be used in textile dyeing, producing subtle shades of green and brown.

Feng Shui

Japanese Wisteria is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

Japanese Wisteria is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Long Life: The Wisteria plant is known for its longevity, growing and blooming for decades, sometimes even over a century.
• Wisdom: Wisteria's long life also lends to its symbolism of wisdom, often associated with the valuable knowledge and understanding that can only be acquired over extended periods of time.
• Patient Progress: Since Wisteria grows slowly but steadily, it symbolizes patient progress and the rewards of work that come with time.
• Good Luck: In certain cultures, Wisteria is believed to bring good luck, especially when it comes to new ventures or starting something new.
• Sensual and Earthly Pleasure: With its intoxicating fragrance and cascading blossoms, Wisteria are often associated with the sensory pleasures of life and the beauty of nature.
• Welcoming: Wisteria is used to decorate porches and entrances, symbolizing the welcoming of guests.
• Love and Romance: In some traditions, the Wisteria symbolizes love, especially the heady and intoxicating aspects of young love.
• Overcoming Hardships: Wisteria plants are extremely hardy and can withstand challenging conditions, symbolizing the human ability to persevere and overcome adversity.