- Appearance
- Wisteria sinensis is a deciduous woody vine capable of growing to a height of 40 ft. (12.2 m). Stems can be up to 10 in. (25.4 cm) in diameter with smooth, gray-brown bark. When looking down on the vine, it twines in a counter clockwise direction around the host.
- Foliage
- Alternate, pinnately compound (7-13 leaflets) leaves are tapered at the tip with wavy edges. Leaflets are approximately 3 in. (7.6 cm) in length.
- Flowers
- Lavender, purple or white flowers are fragrant, very showy and abundant and occur in long, dangling clusters in the spring, 6-12 inches long.
- Fruit
- Seeds are contained in flattened, hairy, 6 in. (15.2 cm) long, bean-like pods. Invasions often occur around previous plantings.
- Ecological Threat
- Wisteria sinensis can displace native vegetation and kill trees and shrubs by girdling them. The vine has the ability to change the structure of a forest by killing trees and altering the light availability to the forest floor. A native of China, it was first introduced into the United States in 1816 for ornamental purposes.
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