Fabaceae FAMILY

Wisteria frutescens

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The seed of all members of this genus is poisonous[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].The seed and seedpod contain a resin and a glycoside called wisterin. Toxic in large quantities, causing nausea, vomitting, stomach pain and diarrhoea[ 292 Title People Plants Database Publication Author Website https://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/default.aspx Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An online database of New Zealand plants and their Maori names and uses. An excellent information source. ]

Botanical Description

Wisteria frutescens is a deciduous climbing shrub with slender, twining stems that can climb into nearby trees and shrubs and, if given the space, can spread 12 metres or more from each side of the main stem[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its summer floral display.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-eastern N. America - Michigan to Massachusets, south to Texas and Virginia (probably naturalized in the north of this range)

HabitatClambering over cliffs and trees on woodland edges in low moist ground[ 235 Title An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Publication Author Britton. N. L. Brown. A. Publisher Dover Publications. New York. Year 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5 Description Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book. , 249 Title Wisterias: a comprehensive guide. Publication Author Valder. P. Publisher Florilegium. Australia. Year 1995 ISBN 0-646-22049-7 Description Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses. ].