This pleasant smelling perennial vine is blooming in northwest Ohio. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is less aggressive than the Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Blooms are a source of nectar and are attractive to butterflies. The plant is also a larval host for marine blue, zarucco duskywing, and skippers. An added bonus for gardeners is that it appears to be tolerant to deer.
The vine's flowers give way to narrow, flattened, smooth seed pods (to 5” long) which ripen in summer. Pods typically split open in fall. Compound, odd-pinnate leaves (each leaf typically with 9-15 lance-shaped leaflets) are deep green.
This vine will perform in a variety of conditions including sun, part shade and shade, but prefers full sun and will give its best floral show under those conditions. It also prefers a slightly acid soil and has been known to become chlorotic in high pH soils. Once established it will handle seasonal flooding to droughty conditions.
