General: The silky wisteria is native to Japan and grows here as a creeper with a length of up to 20 meters. In Japan, the white flowering varieties are particularly widespread. With us, however, the species is rarely found. Like all wisteria, the plant is very vigorous and has large, pinnate leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Compared to the Japanese wisteria, the flowers are smaller and the shoots are left-winding.
Care as a bonsai: Although the flowers and leaves are quite large, impressive bonsai can be grown from the wisteria. The species is fast-growing and without a loop aid it develops self-supporting branches. The most beautiful are certainly inclined shapes, where the flowers hang freely in spring. However, seedlings take many years to bloom. Therefore it is best to use vegetatively propagated plants or grafts. After flowering, the wisteria is severely cut back, unless the plant is still under construction. The second, slight pruning then takes place in late summer. Here the too long shoots up to the flower buds are shortened again. The flower buds differ from the pointed shoot buds in their rounded shape. The roots also grow very strong and finely branched. The plants must therefore be repotted regularly. The roots of the wisteria are sensitive to frost. Therefore, if possible, they should be overwintered frost-free.
Flower color of the variety: ‘Okayama‘ - blue purple (small, intense fragrance) ‘Showa Beni‘ - pink (small)
