Guide to growing Chinese kidney Bean - Wisteria

Wisteria is a genus of hardy perennial climbing plants that are able to reach heights of over 9 metres.

They have a foliage of compound leaves and bloom from the end of spring through to the first months of summer when they carry flowers reminiscent of those of peas; these may be pink or white.

Chinese Kidney Bean is one of the common names for Wisteria.

How to grow Chinese Kidney Bean

It is best to grow Chinese kidney bean plants from cuttings, divided or purchased plants; it can take up to 20 years for seed grown Wisteria to flower!

If you have a lot of patience and want to grow from seed then it is best to first chip the seeds and soak in water for about a day. Then sow the beans at the end of autumn or before the last frost of spring a depth of about 3cm; it should take about a month for the Chinese kidney beans to germinate.

Wheter growing from seed, cuttings or divided plants the Chinese kidney beans should be grown singly and located in either a sunny or partially shaded part of the garden that has a rich and moist soil with good drainage.

Caring for Chinese kidney beans

Wisteria plants such as the Chinese kidney bean are climbers and require something to grow on such a trellis or a wall. They like a moist soil so keep well watered and supply with a mulch in the spring. Feed with a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen.

Though fairly easy to grow getting newly established Chinese kidney beans to flower is another matter. If you can get access to the plant hormone giberellin then an exogenous application should promote flowering. Failing this expect a long wait. It is a good idea to prune back to about 6 or 7 buds in the summer time until the first year of flowering. Once flowering has occurred then the Chinese Kidney beans can be cut back to 3 buds every winter. If you require more Wisteria plants then they can be propagated by taking root cuttings in the summer, or by division in the spring.