What Does a Wisteria Flower Smell Like?

Wisteria is a climbing vine popular for its beautiful and fragrant flowers. These plants explode with cascading flowers in spring. Wisteria can come in lavender, purple, or even white colors. These flowers are beautiful and the plants are surprisingly tough. They can withstand a variety of soils. As they are visually stunning, you may wonder, “What does a Wisteria flower smell like?”

This article will explore different kinds of Wisteria flowers and Wisteria smells. You can select the Wisteria flower best suited for your home and enjoy its stunning beauty.

What do Wisteria Flowers Smell Like?

The smell of Wisteria flower depends on the specific variant you have. All types of Wisteria are not equal in fragrance. So, does Wisteria smell good? Well, some may have a musky smell, and some may have a sweet scent. The fragrance can range from faint to strong and sometimes even overpowering. Some variants of Wisteria smell like Lavender, which has a sweet floral and herbal smell. You can also compare the smell of Wisteria with Lilac. The smell of Wisteria and Lilac is similar but not quite the same.

What are the Types of Wisteria Flowers?

There are many types of Wisteria flowers available in the market. Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria Floribunda) and Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria Sinensis) are the most common and popular.

Depending on where you will plant the climber, it is important to consider some factors other than the scent. You have to consider the color, and growth habits of the plant. Some plants have shorter racemes, and some have longer ones. It makes different trees suitable for different places.

What Does a Wisteria Flower Smell Like?

Different type of Wisteria has different aesthetics and fragrance. Among all the types of Wisteria, here is a detailed list of the most fragrant Wisteria suitable for your garden.

Wisteria Brachybotrys “Murasaki Kapitan” (Silky Wisteria)

The Wisteria Brachybotrus, Murasaki Kapitan, is an excellent climber with a strong and sweet scent. It blooms early in the season and produces hanging sprays that can grow up to 8 inches long. One spray can be packed with 35-47 pea-like flowers which are blue-violet in color. Their blooming season is late spring or early summer, creating a dramatic display of stunning beauty. They have large, attractive, velvety, bean-like pods that are ripe in late summer and can survive to winter. Their green, fresh, pinnate leaves turn soft yellow in the fall season.

Wisteria Brachybotrys “Okayama” (Silky Wisteria)

The Okayama variety of Wisteria Brachybotrys is an award-winning Wisteria variant. It has a captivating, sweet fragrance. This Wisteria also blooms early in the season with cascading sprays of pale lilac, pea-like lavender-blue flowers. To add to its visual intensity, velvety bean-like pods develop following the flowers. In Autumn, the pale green leaves that contain 11 downy leaflets turn golden-yellow. This variant of Wisteria is perfect for gracing house walls.

Wisteria Brachybotrys “Shiro Kapitan” (Silky Wisteria)

With a strong and sweet fragrance, Shiro Kapitan is a cultivar of Wisteria Brachyvotrys. It is known as one of the best smelling Wisterias. This stunning variant has snow-white cascades decorated with a vibrant yellow spot in the middle. These flowers create a mind-blowing display when they bloom in late spring or early summer. They have velvety, bean-like pods following the flower, intensifying the visual impact. The exotic-looking, fresh green leaves made of 11 downy leaflets give the perfect finishing touch to the whole picture of this remarkable variant of Wisteria.

Wisteria Floribunda “Kuchi Beni” (Japanese Wisteria)

Japanese Kuchi Beni cultivar of Wisteria Floribunda is a popular variant with a strong and musky scent. This type of Wisteria coasts long, cascading clusters that can grow up to 18 inches in length. The flowers are pale mauve-pink tripped in purple color and have a pea-like look. They have captivating bean-like pods and blooms in early summer or late spring. Their attractive, thick, light green leaves with lance-shaped leaflets make them look even more beautiful. It turns vibrant yellow in autumn. This Wisteria truly creates a mesmerizing display in the season.

Wisteria Floribunda “Lawrence” (Japanese Wisteria)

Lawrence is considered one of the most fragrant Wisteria flower variants and a sweet smelling Wisteria. It is also popular for its eye-catching pale blue flowers. Its long cascades of pea-like blooms with a beautiful pale blue-violet hue will create a stunning visual. It will enhance the beauty of your garden with its sweet scent, attractive foliage, and lovely fall color. It will be the best choice to decorate your garden.

Wisteria Floribunda “Royal Purple” (Japanese Wisteria)

Japanese Royal Purple variant of Wisteria Floribunda is highly popular for its rich purple bloom. It has long clusters of pea-like violet blooms enchanted with a sweet scent that will catch the eyes of anyone. With alluring foliage that turns golden-yellow in the fall, it is one of the best Wisteria flowers to decorate your garden.

Wisteria Sinensis “Jako” (Chinese Wisteria)

Popular for its appearance and scent, Jako of Wisteria Sinensis is an exceptional variant of Chinese Wisteria Sinensis. With a highly fragrant, musky scent and pea-like flower, this Wisteria variant can grow a cluster up to 30 cm. With white flowers, Jaco blooms in late spring or early summer. The soft, green pods that look like beans that follow the flowers make the scene even more beautiful. Equally attractive to the flowers, Jako has dense foliage of fresh green and pinnate leaves. The flower blooms very early in the season, often in the first year. All these make this Chinese Wisteria a plant of significant beauty.

Final Thought

Wisterias are the perfect choice for decorating your home or garden for alluring fragrance and unbeatable beauty. No tree lover can resist these beauties that fill the air with a sweet, intoxicating scent. Wisteria is a masterpiece that can turn any ordinary garden into a beautiful fairytale. Make sure to get the color that compliments the other flowers and the total vibe of the garden. Wisteria will return the favor in beauty and fragrance if you properly care for it.

FAQs

Is Wisteria edible?

Some variants of Wisteria are edible and can be used to make wine, while others are poisonous. Make sure which variant of Wisteria you have before consumption.

Do Wisteria flowers have cultural significance?

Well, yes. Wisteria flowers have a significant value in both Chinese and Japanese cultures. In Eastern cultures, Wisteria is a sign of longevity and immortality. In Chinese folklore, Wisteria is involved with the legend of the “White Snake.” In Japan, it represents kindness, good luck, and longevity.

When does the Wisteria flower bloom?

Wisteria flowers bloom in late spring and early to mid-summer season. Especially in May and June is the perfect time for the Wisteria to bloom. Some variants have a second wave of blooming in August.