Family: Fabaceae, Pea view all from this family

Description Introduced. An Asian woody vine with compound leaves and showy clusters of violet-blue flowers.
Flowers: small pea flowers in pendulous clusters up to 12" (30 cm) long; fragrant.
Leaves: to 12" (30 cm) long; pinnately compound; 7-13 ovate to elliptical leaflets; each leaflet 2-4" (5-10 cm) long.
Fruit: 4-6" (10-15 cm) pod; brown; covered in a fine fuzz.
Height: varies; to 40' (12 m) or more.

Warning All plant parts are poisonous to humans if ingested.

Flower April-May.

Habitat Mainly sunny disturbed habitats, such as roadsides, ditches, and abandoned fields; also woodland edges.

Range Asia native; escaped from cultivation in the eastern United States as far west as Texas.

Discussion North America is home to two beautiful native wisterias, but the Asian varieties have been much more widely planted. These exotics are said to be able to reach heights of 65 feet (20 m) and stem diameters of 15 inches (37.5 cm). They are rampant growers and have expanded beyond cultivation and into natural habitats in many areas. Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria are both considered noxious or invasive pest plants in many parts of the East.