Where to Buy a Wisteria Vine or Shrub for Your Garden

With its cascading purple blooms in spring, wisteria is one of the most romantic vines you can grow. Wisteria can be trained to climb on an arbor trellis or any sturdy support, adding tons of visual interest to gardens patios and other outdoor spaces. But where can you find and purchase a wisteria for your own garden?

In this article, we’ll cover the best places to buy a wisteria plant, whether you’re looking for a vine or bush variety Read on to learn about your options for purchasing this beautiful, fragrant plant.

Online Retailers

Ordering plants online is often the most convenient way to shop for specific varieties from the comfort of home. Many popular online plant retailers sell potted wisteria vines or bushes ready for shipment. Here are some top online sources:

The Home Depot

As a major home improvement chain, The Home Depot offers one of the widest selections of wisteria vines and bushes available for purchase online. Most are shipped as young bare root or potted plants under two feet tall. Expect to pay $25-$45 for a 1-3 gallon pot.

Amazon

Search “wisteria vine” on Amazon and you’ll find dozens of listings from various vendors. Look for high ratings and check reviews carefully when buying live plants sight unseen. A 1-2 foot vine in a 3″ pot runs $15-$30.

Nature Hills Nursery

This nursery has a beautiful selection of wisteria vines and wisteria shrubs for sale, most priced $30-$60. You’ll find popular cascading types like Amethyst Falls and Blue Moon, plus weeping and dwarf varieties.

Brighter Blooms

Brighter Blooms has a wide range of flowering vines and bushes to choose from. Their wisteria collection includes Amethyst Falls and other cascading types for $64 and up.

Fast Growing Trees

This company lives up to its name, selling advanced wisteria vines and shrubs that will establish and grow quickly in your garden. Their wisteria selection ranges from 3-10 feet tall for $99-$350 each.

Wilson Bros Gardens

Wilson Bros offers large, mature wisteria vines that make a dramatic statement right away. You can expect abundant flowers within 12-24 months. Their vines range from 6-10′ tall at prices from $189-$329 each.

Local Nurseries

Your local independent or chain garden nursery may carry a variety of wisteria plants once spring rolls around. Visit in late winter to early spring to find the best selection. Benefits of buying at a local nursery include:

• Hand select exact plant you want

• Inspect roots, health, vigor before purchasing

• Support a local small business

• Avoid shipping damage/stress to plant

• Get expert planting/care advice

Some things to look for when choosing a wisteria at a nursery:

• Look for plump, green buds along vines and branches

• Select a plant with a strong main trunk and healthy side shoots

• Check for root damage, rot, pests, or signs of disease

• Opt for a plant that’s been nurtured over winter vs freshly shipped

Be aware that supply at local stores is dependent on what growers and distributors have available. Call ahead to check availability if you’re looking for a specific wisteria variety. Expect to pay $25-$60 for a 1-5 gallon vine or shrub.

Popular places to purchase a wisteria plant locally include:

• Independent garden centers, nurseries, or family-owned plant shops

• Big box stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart

• Farm/garden supply retailers like Tractor Supply Company

• Public gardens’ spring plant sales – often have unique selections

• Farmer’s markets or flea markets – hit or miss availability

• Supermarkets or hardware stores – typically basic selections

Mail Order Nurseries

Ordering bare root wisteria vines or bushes by mail is an affordable option. Bare root plants ship while dormant in late winter to early spring before leaves emerge. This reduces shipping stress.

Well-known mail order sources for bare root wisterias include:

• Gurney’s – Offers Amethyst Falls, Blue Moon, Carrolton types for $20-$40

• Stark Brothers – Sells Amethyst Falls, Nana varieties for $25-$45

• Willis Orchards – Carries Purple, White, and Nana wisteria for $22-$35

• Miller Nurseries – Amethyst Falls and other cascades for $27-$47

With mail order bare root, timing delivery in early spring before leafing out is important. Be prepared to plant immediately upon arrival. Pricing is often lower but plants may take 2-3 years longer to flower vs container-grown.

Seeds

You can buy wisteria seeds online or at some garden stores and nurseries. Starting wisteria from seed is an inexpensive option but requires patience. Plants grown from seed may take up to 10 years before flowering for the first time.

Be aware that growing wisteria from seed won’t produce an exact replica of the parent plant. You also can’t control the gender. Only female wisteria flowers, while non-flowering males provide pollen. A mix of both male and female plants is needed to produce those gorgeous blooms.

So seeds are a bit of a gamble unless you’re just looking for attractive foliage. Wisteria seeds run $1-$3 per packet depending on quantity and species.

Where NOT to Buy Wisteria

When searching for places to buy a wisteria, steer clear of:

• Big box stores in off seasons – their selection is usually thin

• Discounted stores like dollar shops – plants are often poor quality

• Unknown vendors with zero reviews or guarantees – major risk of getting ripped off!

Stick to reputable plant retailers, local nurseries and trusted mail order suppliers for the healthiest options.

What Type of Wisteria to Purchase

The most common variety sold is Wisteria macrostachya, also known as Kentucky wisteria. There are also multiple cultivars of Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) to choose from. Some aspects to consider when selecting a variety:

• Flower color – Most popular are purple blooms but white, pink and blue wisterias exist too

• Bloom size – Racemes can be 6 inches to well over a foot long

• Fragrance – Some are very aromatic, others mild

• Growth habit – Twining vines that climb or cascade, plus shrub forms

• Mature size – Vines can grow 30-70 feet tall and 15 feet wide

• Hardiness zone – Ensure chosen variety is suited to your zone

• Native species – Such as W. frutescens which is North American native

If unsure which variety would work best in your landscape, ask a local expert for recommendations suited to your climate and growing conditions.

Preparing to Plant Your Wisteria

Once you get your wisteria home, proper planting is key to getting your vine established or bush off to a vigorous start. Here are a few tips:

• Select a planting spot with full sun to maximize flowering

• amend soil with compost to improve drainage

• Plant in spring after the last frost

• Water deeply after planting and provide regular irrigation the first year

• Spread a 2-3 inch organic mulch layer around plant to retain moisture

• Prune lightly after planting to promote branching and growth

With proper initial care, your wisteria will soon grow into an incredible garden focal point. The heavenly fragrance and romantic flowers will be a joy for years to come.

So don’t delay in finding and planting this iconic vine. With so many great places to get your hands on a wisteria plant – online, locally, or by mail order – you’ll be enjoying those flowers before you know it!