Quick answer: American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is native to 14 states. What's commonly sold under this name is often a bred variety or the wrong species — see the lookalike alert below. It's typically seed, verified 15 Sep 2026.
Where it's native
Listed in the register as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun, Part Shade, Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Medium water, Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding |
| Soil | Rich, moist to mesic, neutral to slightly acid soils - sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay |
| Bloom | Bloom May-Jun |
| Height | Vine 25-30 ft |
| Wildlife value | Nectar source, larval host for Marine Blue butterflies and skippers, high deer resistance |
none noted formally; probably escaped from cultivation in many locations but explicitly less aggressive than Asian species
Lookalike alert
Cultivar only in all 8 states; no wild-type SKU found anywhere; ⚠ NOT on Tennessee's list per one internal note yet appears as a hit there too — verify before reuse.
Sold as: Seed via Amazon · listing verified 15 Sep 2026
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