| Wisteria sinensis | |
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Chinese Wisteria
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| Origin Of Species | |
| China | |
| Physical Description | |
| Chinese wisteria is a twining deciduous vine that can reach between thirty and fifty feet in height and fifteen inches in diameter. The foot-long alternating compound leaves contain between seven and thirteen opposite leaflets. Its violet flowers are fragrant and bloom between April and May, forming large clusters that hang from the stems. Seed pods are brown and generally smooth and silky, reaching four to six inches in length. Two other species of Wisteria, Wisteria frutescens and Wisteria floribunda, look very similar to Wisteria sinensis, which makes identification difficult. Wisteria frutescens is native to the eastern half of the United States, and is listed as a threatened species. Wisteria floribunda is also an invasive exotic prominent in the eastern half of the United States. | |
| Habitat And Distribution | |
| Chinese wisteria is prominent along roadside thickets, open woods, and abandoned cultivated areas throughout the eastern United States. | |
| Location On Campus | |
| Chinese wisteria is found along the woods near Boatwright Drive and in the ravines between the football practice fields and the Modlin Center. | |
| Negative Impacts | |
| Chinese wisteria is often planted as an ornamental but can spread, growing rapidly and aggressively around trees and shrubs, often shading out or strangling them. | |
| VDCR Invasiveness Ranking | |
| Not Evaluated | |
