Wisteria is a fragrant climbing vine known for producing cascades of flowers that announce the arrival of spring. This plant is popular in gardens globally, adorning pergolas, arbors, and building facades with its distinctive blossoms. While the vine is most famously associated with a single hue, its color range is actually quite varied. This exploration will detail the true palette of this plant, distinguishing its common colors from more unusual claims.
The Dominant Color Palette
Wisteria’s primary colors fall into three groups: purple/lavender, white, and pink/rose. The most common color is purple, which ranges from deep, saturated violet tones to softer, pale lilac and lavender hues. Cultivars such as ‘Amethyst’ or ‘Royal Purple’ showcase these intense, deep violet flowers.
The white-flowered varieties offer a clean contrast to the dominant purple, ranging from pure white to a creamy shade. Cultivars like Wisteria sinensis ‘Alba’ provide clear white blooms, while others may have a slight yellow spot near the throat of the flower. Pink wisteria, often described as rose or mauve, is the third color group, featuring blossoms that span from pale blush to a richer rose-pink, seen in varieties like ‘Rosea’.
How Species Influence Color and Form
The specific hue and structure of the flower clusters, known as racemes, are determined by the species of Wisteria. The two most widely cultivated species are Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Chinese types tend toward solid violet or lilac-blue colors, and their racemes are shorter and denser, with all flowers opening nearly simultaneously.
Japanese Wisteria offers a greater diversity in color, including the broadest range of pinks, whites, and blues, often with longer racemes. These racemes can be up to three feet long, and the flowers open gradually from the base to the tip, extending the bloom period. American species, such as Wisteria frutescens and Wisteria macrostachya, feature shorter, denser flower clusters, usually in blue-violet or white. These species are known for being less aggressive climbers.
Addressing Uncommon Color Claims
Claims of certain other colors often lead to confusion for new gardeners. The concept of a “true blue” wisteria is a misnomer, as most “blue” varieties are actually deep lavender or blue-violet. Cultivars like ‘Lawrence’ are described as pale blue, but they still possess a distinct purple undertone rather than a pure sky-blue pigment.
A true yellow Wisteria belonging to the Wisteria genus does not exist. The plant commonly mistaken for yellow wisteria is the Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum), which is in the same plant family and produces pendulous chains of bright yellow flowers. This structural similarity leads to the common misidentification, but the two are distinct genera. While a few rare cultivars of American Wisteria have been bred to display a pale yellow hue, they are not widely available and do not possess the vibrant golden color of the Laburnum.