Wisteria floribunda, common name , is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Japan. (Wisteriopsis japonica, synonym Wisteria japonica, is a different species.) Growing to , Wisteria floribunda is a woody, deciduous twining climber. It was first brought from Japan to the United States in the 1830s. Since then, it has become one of the most highly romanticized flowering garden plants. It is also a common subject for bonsai, along with Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria). The flowering habit of Japanese wisteria is perhaps the most spectacular of the Wisteria genus. It sports the longest flower racemes of any wisteria; Some of those cultivars can reach in length. These racemes burst into great trails of clustered white, pink, violet, or blue flowers in early- to mid-spring. The flowers carry a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. The early flowering time of Japanese wisteria can cause problems in temperate climates, where early frosts can destroy the coming years' flowers. It will also flower only after passing from juvenile to adult stage, a transition that may take many years just like its cousin Chinese wisteria. Japanese wisteria can grow over long over many supports via powerful clockwise-twining stems. The foliage consists of shiny, dark-green, pinnately compound leaves in length. The leaves bear 9-13 oblong leaflets that are each long. It also bears numerous poisonous, brown, velvety, bean-like seed pods long that mature in summer and persist until winter. Japanese wisteria prefers moist soils and full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9. The plant often lives over 50 years. Cultivars Those marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. 'Burford' — pale violet with purple keel 'Domino' - pale lilac or 'Rosea' - pale rose flowers tipped purple, long ' Perfect' - light lavender flowers or 'Royal Purple' - dark blue or violet flowers, lightly scented, long clustered bunches, long 'Jako' or 'Ivory Tower' 'Kimono' <ref>. 'Macrobotrys' or 'Longissima' - reddish-violet flower clusters or longer 'Macrobotrys Cascade' - white and pinkish-purple flowers, vigorous grower 'Nana Richins Purple' - purple flowers - variegated foliage 'Plena' or 'Violaceae Plena' - double blue flowers in dense clusters 'Praecox' or 'Domino' - purple flowers 'Purpurea' - unknown - may be Wisteria sinensis 'Consequa', sometimes labeled purpurea 'Rubra' - unknown - may be 'Honbeni' - sometimes labeled as Rubrum - deep pink to red flowers (W. floribunda f' alba) -