Climbing wisteria vines can kill sizable trees, opening the forest canopy and increasing sunlight to the forest floor, which in turn favors its aggressive growth. Chinese and Japanese wisterias are hardy and aggressive, capable of forming thickets so dense that little else grows. Japanese and Chinese wisteria are found extensively throughout the eastern states. Click here to see a distribution map. The ideal habitat for exotic wisterias is in full sun, but established vines will persist and reproduce in partial shade.
Vines often climb surrounding vegetation and structures toward sunlight.
Wisteria tolerates a variety of soil and moisture regimes but prefers loamy, deep, well drained soils. Chinese wisteria was brought to the U.S. from China in 1816 and Japanese wisteria was introduced from Japan around 1830. Both were brought in as ornamentals. They have been grown extensively in the southern U.S. as decorative additions to porches, gazebos, walls, and gardens. Most infestations in natural areas are a result of escapes from landscape plantings.