Wisteria is a creeper with torrents of blue, lilac, and sometimes pink and white flowers that look spectacularly draped over an arch in spring and early summer.
However, this vine is a fast and vigorous grower, often reaching over 30 feet in length and it is known for getting quite heavy.
Does wisteria need full sun or can it grow in shade? Find out what the sun requirements are for your wisteria flowers here.
Wisteria blossoms smell wonderful and are a feast for the senses but the vines invade every nook and cranny they can reach, so it’s recommended not to plant them too close to your home.
After flowering, a brown, bean-like pod remains on the plant until winter. Flowers only appear on new growth.
Wisteria vines prefer slightly acidic soil that drains well. This lushly blooming vine also craves fertile, consistently moist, but not soggy soil.
You can plant your wisteria in the spring and enjoy the flowers through the summer season. Alternatively, you can plant Wisteria vines in the fall, let them grow through winter, and sprout them the following spring.
Types of Wisteria
There are three main types of wisteria:
- Chinese wisteria (Wisteria Sinensis)
- Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
- American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
There is a fourth type called Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya) but it is a subtype of the American wisteria.
They all look so alike that it’s difficult to tell them apart, but one distinguishing feature is the pods. Chinese and Japanese wisteria are covered with fluff while those of the American type are smooth.
Does Wisteria Need Full Sun?
Yes, wisteria needs full sun and is in fact, sensitive to cold. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight is mandatory for American and Chinese wisteria to bloom nicely.
Japanese wisteria would be allowed to receive a whole day of sun for the best outcome because it doesn’t do well in shade at all. It’s suggested that you protect your wisteria from the intensity of the afternoon sun as long as it gets the recommended 6 hours of direct light daily.
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How Many Hours Of Sun Does Wisteria Need?
The least amount of sun wisteria needs is 6 hours. If your wisteria gets up to 8 hours of sun, it is still okay.
Shade wisteria from heat when temperatures begin to rise greatly, especially American and Chinese wisteria.
Warmth is important, though, and if well balanced with sunshine can produce spectacular wisteria flowers.
Can Wisteria Grow In Indirect Sunlight?
Does wisteria need full sun? Wisteria can thrive in indirect daylight. However, you may get fewer blooms from vines grown in indirect daylight than you may from wisteria grown in complete sun.
Wisteria flowers love the sun. Although they can grow in indirect light, they won’t grow to their full potential.
Avoid planting your wisteria in an area that receives only indirect sunlight. Even a few hours of full sun every day can make a big difference when compared to receiving indirect sun only.
Can Wisteria Grow In Shade?
Wisteria does not grow well in the shade. In most cases, flowers will not bloom if there is no direct sun or not enough direct sun.
Don’t expect wisteria to produce vibrant blooms in full shade. For this reason, it is always best to plant wisteria in full sun to make sure your efforts don’t go to waste.
Wisteria also tends to overgrow when planted in shade, climbing almost any surface to find the sun. In addition, wisteria is not a fan of cold weather so if planted late in the season when temperatures are starting to drop.
What Happens If Wisteria Doesn’t Get Enough Sun?
Wisteria that doesn’t get enough sun won’t die just like that. It can grow a lot of leaves but just a few flowers. Excessive foliage growth with a lack of flowers is a sign your wisteria is not getting enough sunlight.
Does wisteria need full sun? If it doesn’t get enough light, your wisteria may become dull because the vine needs direct sunlight. This sickly condition makes your wisteria more susceptible to plant diseases, fungal infections, and insect pests.
Full, direct sun is the secret to healthy, flourishing wisteria.
Can Wisteria Get Too Much Sun?
Yes, Wisteria can get too much sun. Although cold and shade are much more damaging to wisteria than strong sun exposure, it is still possible to get sunburned or leaf burned.
When this happens it is usually in late summer when temperatures are high and droughts can occur.
Burnt leaves are the first sign that wisteria has been exposed to too much heat and sun. If the wisteria leaves have dark brown spots, the plant is likely to have been damaged by the sun.
The flowers may also turn brown and may fall off prematurely. These negative effects occur quickly in extremely high temperatures accompanied by a drought. Luckily, wisteria recovers quickly from sunburn if given some shade and a little more water.
How Much Sun Does Wisteria Require?
How much sun does wisteria need? Wisteria needs full sun for 6 hours or more every day. However, a little shade is good during the hottest part of the day but in most cases, wisteria can easily receive direct and full sun throughout the day.
FAQ’s
What month does wisteria bloom?
Early May is often when wisterias blossom. Tendrils start to emerge from the main structural vines that you’ve connected to the cross bracing shortly after the blooming time has ended. The wisteria won’t blossom for the first several years while it is being trained since it is too young.
How tall should a wisteria trellis be?
Wisteria has an annual growth rate of about 10 ft (3.0 m). Choose a wall that is at least 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall as a result.
How long does wisteria take to flower?
Wisteria cannot blossom until they are between the ages of 7 and 15. Overpruning is the last and least likely cause of a wisteria’s failure to bloom. The flower buds will be removed by overpruning.
How far from your house should you plant wisteria?
Wisteria needs space to spread out and something to climb, and it should be planted in full sun. Because wisteria needs at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to bloom, plant it facing south or west. Your Wisteria plants should be spaced at least 15 feet apart.
What grows well with wisteria?
You can plant clematis and wisteria on the same support because they both thrive in the same conditions. A wisteria with deep blue or purple blooms will contrast attractively with a clematis with pink blooms.
What month do you prune wisteria?
In July or August and again in January or February of each year, wisteria is pruned.
How many times a year does wisteria bloom?
Typically, your Wisteria plant will only bloom once each spring and into early summer. However, some people have had luck getting a second bloom in the late summer months or early fall.
Summary
Does wisteria need full sun? You should position your wisteria plants so that they receive ample sunlight.
These plants need at least six hours of full sun each day. The wisteria can grow well in partial shade, but this location may result in few or no flowers.
As with any plant, provide sufficient water and prune off dead, damaged, or diseased growth whenever you see it. We would love to hear about your wisteria adventures, so leave us a comment.
