I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how to grow wisteria from seeds, and I have to say, it’s quite an adventure! Today, we’re going to go over this fascinating process in more detail. It will test your patience, but you might end up with beautiful purple cascades. eventually!.
The Truth About Wisteria from Seeds (What Nobody Tells You!)
Before we jump in here’s the tea If you’re hoping for quick blooms, you might wanna sit down for this. Growing wisteria from seeds takes FOREVER to flower – we’re talking 15+ years! Yeah you read that right! But if you’re like me and love a good gardening challenge, let’s get our hands dirty!
What You’ll Need:
- Fresh wisteria seed pods
- Sterile starter pots
- Well-draining sterile soil
- Plastic covering (optional)
- Patience (lots of it!)
- A warm spot for germination
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Wisteria
1. Collecting and Preparing Seeds
First things first, ya gotta:
- Wait till fall when the plant drops its leaves
- Pick pods before they pop open
- Dry them somewhere warm until they’re super brittle
- Twist them pods to get your seeds out
Tip: If you see fuzzy seeds, they are Asian types. Smooth ones? Those are North American. Just so you know, those Asian ones can be very mean in the garden!
2. Seed Preparation
Here’s what worked for me:
- Soak seeds overnight in warm water
- Fill pots with sterile, well-draining soil
- Plant seeds about 1 inch deep (or less)
- Keep soil temp above 65°F (18°C)
3. Germination Process
This part needs some patience:
- Water when soil surface starts drying
- Consider using plastic cover until sprouts show up
- Wait 1-2 months for germination
- Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy
When to Plant Your Baby Wisteria Outdoors
Time it right, fam! Your seedlings are ready for the great outdoors when:
- They’ve grown at least 2 sets of leaves
- They’re 4-5 inches tall
- You’ve got 45+ days before first frost
- It’s spring or summer
Choosing the Perfect Spot
Your wisteria needs:
- Full sun (6+ hours daily)
- Well-draining soil
- Strong support structure
- Plenty of growing space (these babies can grow 10+ feet per year!)
Real Talk: The Waiting Game
Look, I gotta keep it with you – if waiting 15 years for flowers ain’t your thing, there’s no shame in propagating from cuttings instead. They’ll bloom way faster and stay true to the parent plant.
Pro Tips from My Experience
- Don’t let mature plants spread seeds everywhere (unless you want a wisteria forest!)
- Plant near sturdy structures – these vines get HEAVY
- Consider starting multiple seeds since not all might make it
- Keep detailed records of your growing progress
Final Thoughts
Not everyone can grow wisteria from seeds—it’s like waiting for the next season of your favorite TV show, but a lot longer! But if you’re in it for the journey, not just the end result, it’s really fun.
Remember, good things come to those who wait… and wait… and wait some more!
Have you grown wisteria from seeds before? Tell us about it in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more gardening tips.
Note: Want quicker results? Check out our guide on propagating wisteria from cuttings – it’s a game-changer for impatient gardeners like me!
The Simple Steps to Growing Wisteria
- Your Purple Wisteria Seeds
- A Jar or Container
- Water
- Small Planters
- Soil
Before you can plant wisteria seeds, it is important to germinate them first. Put the Wisteria seeds in a jar and soak them in water that has been left at room temperature for three days. This will help the seeds sprout.
Some recommend wounding the outer shell or using lukewarm water to help germination – although this is often not necessary for Wisteria. If you would like to scarify your Wisteria seeds you can see the methods listed in our growing Sakura guide here.
After 3 days, make sure your seeds are well hydrated. Then, pour out all the water in the jar, leaving just enough to keep the air humid. You don’t want too much water to stay inside.
The container should be inspected on a daily or semi-daily basis to allow fresh air in and check to see if there are germinated seeds. When you check on it every two to three days, you might start to see wisteria sprouts. After a few days, you’ll probably see a lot of them.
Look at the size difference between a dry seed as it comes out of the pod and a freshly germinated one.
Now that these seeds have sprouted, they need to be potted. For the Wisteria seeds, youll want regular potting soil. Gently place each seed in a small hole below the surface and then cover them with a thin layer of soil. The final step in getting new plants potted is watering. Especially if the soil is dry.
*If some seeds dont show signs of germination, theyll go back in the jar for a longer germination time.
In a few more days, the potted wisteria will become little Wisteria plants and should start to pop up from the soil.
And this is how the Wisteria seedlings will look like after growing for a few more weeks.
A Wisteria plant has developed from each seed and they should grow well as Wisteria is such a fast growing plant. If the outside temperatures are still too low for your plants. Try growing these seedlings inside.
Wisteria is a fast growing, and wide spreading tree. There are houses here in Japan overtaken by Fuji plants, and while they look beautiful in the spring, you may want to make sure to trim them if you do not keep them as a bonsai. Their fast and easy growing nature makes them perfect for bonsai since you can trim them and experiment with different styles without needing to wait as long as some other types of trees.
Feel free to watch the video below for a video guide to starting your seeds.
Pruning wisteria is an important part of caring for this beautiful, flowering plant. Proper pruning can help to keep the plant healthy, encourage new growth, and improve the overall appearance of the wisteria.
When pruning wisteria, it is important to start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. This will help to keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth. Next, remove any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as these can cause damage to the plant over time.
It is also a good idea to thin out the plant by removing some of the smaller, less vigorous branches. This will help to improve the overall appearance of the wisteria and encourage the remaining branches to grow more robustly.
Finally, prune the wisteria to maintain its desired shape. This may involve removing branches that are growing too long or too aggressively, or trimming back the plant to a more manageable size.
It is important to keep in mind that wisteria can be a fast-growing plant, and it may need to be pruned regularly to keep it in shape and prevent it from becoming overgrown. Pruning wisteria can be a bit of a daunting task, but with a little bit of patience and practice, you can learn to prune this beautiful plant with confidence.
Wisteria (Fuji 藤) Seeds Germination
While some seeds, such as our Sakura require a longer germination period and more aggressive scarification to weaken their hard outer shell, Wisteria seeds have little to no dormancy period and can begin sprouting very quickly. A prior treatment with Scarification (weakening the hard outer shell) and is recommended by some for Wisteria seeds to achieve high germination rate, but with simple germination methods it is possible to have high success without scarification.
How to grow Wisteria from seed
FAQ
How long does wisteria take to grow from seed?
Growing wisteria from seed can take a long time, often 7 to 15 years before the first flowers appear. While some plants may bloom earlier, others may take even longer.
Where should you not plant wisteria?
We really don’t think you should plant wisteria too close to your house. The vines need something very strong to climb on, like a metal or wooden trellis or pergola.
What is the best month to plant wisteria?
Planting of wisteria is best done between October and April. You can plant wisteria in a pot at any time of the year, but it is easier to take care of them in the fall or winter. Plant them in fertile, well-drained soil. Wisterias flower best in full sun so choose a south- or west-facing wall or pergola.