Japanese Wisteria

Submitted By jpadron13
Words: 328
Pages: 2

Japanese Wisteria

Common Name: Japanese Wisteria
Scientific Name: Wisteria floribunda (Willd.)
Location of Invasion: From Tennessee to South Carolina north to New Jersey and by six national parks in that area.
How did it get here: Japanese wisteria was introduced from Japan around 1830 as an ornamental. It has been grown extensively in the southern U.S. as a decorative addition to porches, gazebos, walls, and gardens
Source or where did it come from: Japan
When Did it arrive:1830’s
Why is it a Problem: The hard woody vines of Japanese wisteria twine tightly around host tree trunks and branches and cut through the host tree bark, eventually girdling and killing it. On the ground, new vines germinating from seed or sprouting from rootstocks form dense thickets that smother and shade out native vegetation and impede natural plant community development. As girdled trees die, canopy gaps are created which increase the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor. While this may temporarily favor some native species, it also stimulates vigorous growth and spread of wisteria.
How is it being controlled: Mechanical controls can be used for wisteria control, but tend to be expensive and labor intensive. Lateral stems (vines) are produced at the base of climbing stems and can run a good distance from the original plant. Climbing vines can twine tightly around trees and shrubs making removal difficult. Young shoots can be snapped to prune, but older vines are difficult to cut. In