Troubleshooting
Wisteria floribunda problems — and how to fix them
Wisteria floribunda (Wisteria floribunda) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
No flowers on young plants
Seed-raised plants can take 10-20 years to bloom; buy a named grafted plant and prune twice yearly to build flowering spurs.
Lost flower buds
Hard late frosts can kill the swelling buds, and mistimed hard pruning removes the short spurs that carry next year's racemes.
Overwhelming vigour
Woody stems are immensely strong and can damage downpipes, trellis and brickwork — give it a heavy-duty dedicated support and stay on top of pruning.
Iron-deficiency chlorosis
Yellow leaves with green veins on alkaline soils; apply sequestered iron and add organic matter to acidify slightly.
Prevent wisteria floribunda problems before they start
Most wisteria floribunda issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Wisteria floribunda varieties: common problems
Looking for wisteria floribunda in general rather than its problems? Read the full wisteria floribunda care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Wisteria floribunda problems — FAQ
Why is my wisteria floribunda no flowers on young plants?
Seed-raised plants can take 10-20 years to bloom; buy a named grafted plant and prune twice yearly to build flowering spurs.
Why is my wisteria floribunda lost flower buds?
Hard late frosts can kill the swelling buds, and mistimed hard pruning removes the short spurs that carry next year's racemes.
Why is my wisteria floribunda overwhelming vigour?
Woody stems are immensely strong and can damage downpipes, trellis and brickwork — give it a heavy-duty dedicated support and stay on top of pruning.
Why is my wisteria floribunda iron-deficiency chlorosis?
Yellow leaves with green veins on alkaline soils; apply sequestered iron and add organic matter to acidify slightly.