Evergreen Wisteria
Callerya reticulata
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Callerya reticulata, the evergreen wisteria, is one of the most graceful vines for the Southern garden, and one of the most refined. Once known to botanists as Millettia reticulata and Wisteria reticulata, this evergreen climber is not a true wisteria, though the cascading habit and aristocratic bearing recall one. A vine for porches and pergolas, the evergreen wisteria prizes quiet bloom over brash spectacle, and carries both fragrance and folklore in the tendrils.
Native to the humid woodlands of China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, this member of the pea family wears dense, leathery, deep-green leaves, each compound leaf composed of seven to thirteen softly pointed leaflets whose netted veining gives the species the name reticulata, netted. In bloom, the evergreen wisteria is transformed: panicles of bluish-violet, pea-shaped flowers with golden centers hang like garlands of amethyst, scenting the air with a heady mix of cedar and camphor from the height of summer well into fall.
Far more manageable than the rampant true wisterias, the evergreen wisteria is a restrained, well-mannered climber for zones 8 to 10, happy in fertile, loamy, evenly moist soil in dappled to full sun. Prune faded flowers to prevent seeding and to spur fresh bloom, and at the cold edge of the range shelter the plant in a pot for winter. Pollinators work the flowers heavily, and with age the slender stems thicken into woody, twisting trunks like the old vines of courtyard walls.
There is a second life to this vine. In traditional Chinese medicine the dried stem, known as ji xue teng, has a long history as a remedy for the blood and circulation, and modern study has isolated genistein and flavonoids of interest. Grown here for the evergreen foliage and the fragrant amethyst bloom.
Photos courtesy of Jim Robbins.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 8–10
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Moist, Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 10–20 Feet · Spread 6–10 Feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Seasonality
- Evergreen
Fragrant bluish-violet pea-flowers with golden centers, summer to fall
References & research
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.
- Traditional use only; not evaluated as a modern medicine
- Consult a healthcare professional before any medicinal use
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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