Side by side
Chinese wisteria or common laburnum? How to tell them apart
Wisteria sinensis · Laburnum anagyroides
How to tell them apart – Chinese wisteria: a climber with pinnate leaves and bluish-purple flower clusters; common laburnum: small tree with leaves of three leaflets and long, hanging clusters of yellow pea flowers in May.
How do you recognise them?
- Chinese wisteria
- Vigorous twining climber with pinnate leaves and long, hanging racemes of bluish-purple flowers in May.
- Compared with common laburnum: a climber with pinnate leaves and bluish-purple flower clusters.
- Common laburnum
- Small tree with leaves of three leaflets and long, hanging clusters of yellow pea flowers in May.
| Chinese wisteria | Common laburnum | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, odd-pinnate with 7–13 leaflets. | Alternate, with three elliptic, untoothed leaflets 3–8 cm long on a long stalk; underside grey-green and silky-hairy. |
| Flowering | Hanging racemes of 15–30 cm, bluish-purple and fragrant, in May, before or with the leaves (April–May). | Hanging clusters 10–30 cm long of golden-yellow pea flowers, in May–June (May–June). |
| Fruit | Velvety pods; the seeds are poisonous. | Flat, hairy pods 4–6 cm long with black seeds, which stay on the tree for a long time. |
| Bark | Thick, woody stems that twist around supports. | Smooth, olive-green to brownish green; young twigs grey-green and hairy. |
| Shape and height | Climber, twines to 15–20 m | Broadleaf tree, 4–8 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | January–February and July–August | July–September |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Chinese wisteria is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Common laburnum is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Chinese wisteria
- Plant profile: Common laburnum
- Chinese wisteria: when and how to prune
- Common laburnum: when and how to prune
- Identification key
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This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.