Knowing how to prune Wisteria is key to keeping this stunning climber looking its best, with abundant flowers and lush foliage. Loved by many, Wisteria beautifully adorns walls, pergolas, trellises and even arches or trees, blooming from late spring into early summer. With varieties ranging from pure white to delicate lilac and rich purple, it’s a versatile garden favourite. Once you learn the pruning basics, caring for your Wisteria becomes simple and rewarding. Just follow these easy steps.
When to Prune Wisteria
Wisteria benefits from pruning twice a year—once in summer and again during winter (January or February).
- Summer pruning (July or August): After flowering finishes, cut back the long, whippy green shoots to about five leaves. This helps control the plant’s size, preventing it from spilling into windows, and encourages more prolific flowering.
- Winter pruning: Trim those same shoots back further, leaving just three buds to give the plant a neat and tidy shape.
Pruning Techniques for Wisteria
If your Wisteria is mature, you may need to prune more heavily. Remove any old, dead, or overcrowded growth. Cut longer branches and older stems back to just above strong, younger shoots, or even down to a main branch if necessary. When doing a hard prune, take your time to create a well-spaced framework of branches. This encourages fresh, vigorous growth in spring.
Training and Supporting Your Wisteria
Wisteria naturally climbs wherever it can, but regular pruning encourages more flowers and helps keep it manageable. When growing against a wall, provide horizontal support like galvanized steel wires. For pergolas, allow the flowers to cascade down overhead for a stunning effect. Growing Wisteria as a small tree is possible but requires careful pruning; flowering may reduce if the canopy becomes too dense. If planting near a tree, place the Wisteria about 1 meter from the trunk on the south side.
Choosing the Right Wisteria Variety
The classic blue-lilac shades are the most popular, but white, pink, and deep purple varieties are also available—many of which are wonderfully fragrant.
- Most Wisterias climb by twining, but note that Wisteria floribunda twines clockwise, while Wisteria sinensis twines counterclockwise.
- The most common species is Wisteria sinensis, with ‘Prolific’ being a favorite cultivar.
- Beyond these, you'll also find other beautiful choices like Wisteria floribunda 'Domino', Wisteria sinensis 'Amethyst' and Wisteria brachybotrys 'Showa-beni', which boasts charming pink and white flowers.
Visit Carpenters Nursery to explore our selection of Wisteria varieties and the best tools to keep your plants beautifully pruned and thriving.
