What Do Wisteria Leaves Look Like? A Close Examination
Wisteria is a gorgeous vine known for its drooping clusters of fragrant flowers that come in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white. But beyond its showy blooms, wisteria is also admired for its lush green foliage. So what exactly do wisteria leaves look like? Let’s take a close look at the characteristics and traits of these elegant leaves.
Size and Shape: Wisteria leaves are pinnately compound, which means that each leaf has several leaflets arranged along a central stem called a rachis. Each leaflet is oval or elliptical, with a point that taper toward the end. Leaflets are about 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. Each leaf contains 5 to 13 oppositely arranged leaflets.
The leaflets are usually a deep green color, but it can be anything from light green to deep emerald green depending on the type of plant and how much sun it gets. Some varieties may take on bronze or reddish hues. In the fall, wisteria leaves turn bright yellow before dropping.
Texture and Venation
Wisteria leaflets have a smooth, glossy texture and a delicate appearance. Their venation pattern is pinnate, meaning the veins branch off the main vein that runs down the center of each leaflet. This gives the leaves a feather-like look.
Leaf Arrangement: The leaflets are spread out evenly along the rachis and are arranged in a pattern of alternating leaflets. They connect to the rachis with a short stem called a petiole that is usually half an inch to an inch long. In the opposite direction, the leaves grow from buds on last year’s growth.
Variations
There are different species and cultivars of wisteria that have slightly different leaf characteristics. Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) has leaflets that are more rounded than other types. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) has narrower, more elongated leaflets. Some varieties like Wisteria macrostachya ‘Betty Matthews’ have leaves that take on a bluish-green hue.
Seasonal Changes
Wisteria leaves emerge later in spring after the flowers have bloomed. They unfurl from buds as small, furled leaves that expand into their full size. The foliage remains green and lush throughout summer. In autumn, the leaves turn golden yellow or burnt orange before dropping from the vine. The plant is bare throughout winter until new growth appears in spring.
ToxicityAn important note about wisteria leaves is that they contain wisterin and other toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested The seeds inside the pods are especially poisonous. Caution should be taken to keep children and pets away from wisteria foliage.
Ecological threat in the united states15
The tough, woody vines wrap around the trunks and branches of host trees and cut through the bark, killing the trees by girdling them. On the ground, new vines that grow from seeds or rootstocks make dense thickets that shade out and suffocate native plants and stop the natural growth of plant communities. As girdled trees die, canopy gaps are created which increase the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor. While this may temporarily favor some native species, it also stimulates vigorous growth and spread of wisteria.
Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensis
This plant, Wisteria sinensis, is a woody, deciduous, perennial climbing vine in the genus Wisteria. It is native to China, specifically to the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. This plant is a climbing vine, but it can be trained to look like a tree. The trunk is usually wavy, and the top is flat.
More info for the terms: shrub, vine, vines
This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g., [24]).
Both Japanese and Chinese wisteria are showy, ornamental perennial lianas that commonly climb, twine, or trail on the ground [21,34]. Chinese wisteria is also occasionally described as a shrub [8,19]. Both species have been observed 65 feet (20 m) high in the canopy [34], and there are records of vines 70 feet (21 m) long [21]. The species look similar to each other and can be difficult to distinguish because they hybridize [21,35]. One way to differentiate the species is by examining the direction of vine twining; Chinese wisteria vines twine clockwise, while Japanese wisteria vines twine counter-clockwise [22].
Roots: One flora describes Chinese wisteria roots as few but “deeply penetrating” [41].
Stems: Stems of older wisteria plants can grow 15 inches (38 cm) in diameter, and have infrequent, alternate branches [34].
Leaves: Compound leaves of wisterias are about 1 foot (0.3 m) in length and alternate along the stem. Japanese wisteria leaves consist of 13 to 19 leaflets, while Chinese wisteria leaves consist of 7 to 13 leaflets [34].
Flowers: Wisteria flowers are dangling and showy, blue-violet, and are borne on racemes. Racemes are 4 to 20 inches (10-50 cm) long and 3 to 4 inches (7-10 cm) wide. All Chinese wisteria flowers bloom at the same time, while Japanese wisteria flowers bloom in sequence, starting at the base [21].
Fruits: Wisteria fruits are velvety brown seed pods, 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long, narrowed toward the base, with constrictions in the pods that separate the seeds [34]. Each pod contains 1 to 8 flat, round, brown seeds, each 0.5 to 1 inch (1.2-2.5 cm) in diameter [21].
The Beautiful and Deadly Wisteria – An Amazing Plant!
FAQ
How to identify wisteria leaves?
Leaves: Compound leaves of wisterias are about 1 foot (0. 3 m) in length and alternate along the stem. Japanese wisteria leaves consist of 13 to 19 leaflets, while Chinese wisteria leaves consist of 7 to 13 leaflets [34]. Flowers: Wisteria flowers are dangling and showy, blue-violet, and are borne on racemes.
What are the negatives of growing wisteria?
Wisteria is a vigorous grower. However, this isn’t a vine for a flimsy fence or trellis and it usually isn’t a good idea to plant it against a building. Even native wisteria, which is less invasive than Japanese wisteria, tends to be aggressive and can destroy paint or crawl under siding.
What does wisteria look like when not in bloom?
When not in bloom, wisteria appears as a vigorous, climbing vine with dense, green foliage. The leaves are typically compound, meaning they are composed of multiple leaflets, often described as lacy or fern-like.
How do you identify native wisteria?
Wisteria’s own pods provide a means by which gardeners can distinguish native from exotic species. Asian wisteria pods have velvety surfaces because they are covered in short hairs, but native wisteria pods are smooth and hairless.