The tree that looks most like wisteria is the jacaranda, with clouds of lavender-blue flowers in late spring, but it only grows where winters are nearly frost-free. Golden chain tree is the closest match in cold climates. It has the same long, hanging flower clusters, in yellow, and is hardy to zone 5. Other trees with wisteria-like flowers are tree wisteria, Texas mountain laurel and chaste tree. In the tropics there are pink trumpet tree and royal poinciana. If you want real wisteria without the invasive Asian vines, grow the native American or Kentucky wisteria, which can be trained into a small tree.
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Wisteria itself is a woody vine in the pea family, not a tree. Chinese and Japanese wisteria, the two most planted kinds, are invasive in much of the eastern U.S. They can pull down gutters, fences and small trees. All parts of wisteria, especially the seeds and pods, are poisonous to people, dogs and cats.
- Trees With Purple, Wisteria-Like Flowers
- Wisteria-Like Trees in Other Colors
- Wisteria-Like Vines and a Native Wisteria
- How to Choose a Wisteria Alternative
| Plant | Botanical name | Flowers | Height | Zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacaranda | Jacaranda mimosifolia | Lavender-blue, late spring | 25–50 ft | 9b–11 |
| Tree Wisteria | Bolusanthus speciosus | Violet-blue, spring | 13–23 ft | 9b–11 |
| Texas Mountain Laurel | Dermatophyllum secundiflorum | Purple, early spring | 10–15 ft | 7b–11 |
| Chaste Tree | Vitex agnus-castus | Lavender-blue, summer | 10–20 ft | 6–9 |
| Empress Tree (Don’t Plant) | Paulownia tomentosa | Pale violet, spring | 30–50 ft | 5–9 |
| Golden Chain Tree | Laburnum × watereri | Yellow, late spring | 15–25 ft | 5–7 |
| Pink Trumpet Tree | Handroanthus impetiginosus | Pink to lavender, late winter–spring | 20–30 ft | 10–11 |
| Royal Poinciana | Delonix regia | Red-orange, summer | 30–40 ft | 10–11 |
| Chilean Potato Vine | Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ | Purple-blue, summer | 10–20 ft | 8–10 |
| American and Kentucky Wisteria | Wisteria frutescens | Lilac-blue, late spring–summer | Vine, 15–30 ft | 4–9 |
Trees With Purple, Wisteria-Like Flowers
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Jacaranda is the closest match to wisteria in color. In late spring the whole crown is covered in loose clusters of trumpet-shaped, lavender-blue flowers, and the fallen flowers make a purple carpet underneath. It has fern-like leaves, grows 25 to 50 feet tall and spreads almost as wide. It comes from Argentina and Bolivia and is famous in Pretoria, South Africa, the “Jacaranda City”, and in Australia. In the U.S. it grows in southern California, South Florida and the Rio Grande Valley. Young trees are damaged below about 25°F. It is invasive in South Africa and parts of Australia.
Tree Wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus)
Tree wisteria is a small tree from southern Africa, not a true wisteria, but a member of the same pea family. In spring it has hanging sprays of violet-blue, pea-shaped flowers that look very much like wisteria. It grows slowly to 13 to 23 feet with a narrow crown and is very drought tolerant once established. It suits small gardens in frost-free, dry climates such as southern California and Arizona.
Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum)
Texas mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Texas, New Mexico and northern Mexico. In early spring it has dense, drooping clusters of violet-purple flowers that smell like grape soda. It grows slowly to 10 to 15 feet and is very drought tolerant. Its bright red seeds are highly poisonous. Deer leave it alone, but the caterpillars of the genista broom moth can strip its leaves. It was long known as Sophora secundiflora.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Chaste tree is a multi-stemmed small tree with upright spikes of fragrant, lavender-blue flowers from early summer into fall, when wisteria has long finished. It loves heat and full sun, attracts bees and butterflies and grows 10 to 20 feet tall in the South. In zone 6 it often dies back to the ground in winter and regrows as a shrub. Its flower spikes point up, so it gives wisteria’s color rather than its hanging shape.
Empress Tree (Don’t Plant) (Paulownia tomentosa)
Empress tree, or princess tree, has large, upright clusters of pale violet, foxglove-like flowers in spring, before its huge leaves open. From a distance it can look like a tree covered in wisteria. It comes from China and grows extremely fast, but it spreads by millions of tiny seeds and root sprouts and is invasive across much of the eastern U.S. Don’t plant it. Jacaranda, chaste tree or native wisteria are better choices.
Wisteria-Like Trees in Other Colors
Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum × watereri)
Golden chain tree has the same long, hanging flower clusters as wisteria, in bright yellow. The chains are 10 to 20 inches long in late spring. It is the best wisteria-like tree for cold climates, but it prefers cool summers and struggles in hot, humid regions. It is often trained over arches and tunnels, as wisteria is. All parts, especially the seeds, are poisonous. ‘Vossii’ has the longest chains and sets few seeds.
Pink Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus impetiginosus)
Pink trumpet tree, also known by its old name Tabebuia, comes from Mexico, Central and South America. In late winter and spring its bare branches are covered in clusters of pink to lavender, trumpet-shaped flowers about 2 to 3 inches long. It grows 20 to 30 feet tall in gardens. Related trumpet trees have yellow flowers: Handroanthus chrysotrichus and silver trumpet tree, Tabebuia aurea. They grow only in frost-free areas such as South Florida and southern California.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Royal poinciana, or flame tree, is a wisteria relative from Madagascar in the pea family. It has a wide, umbrella-shaped crown up to twice as wide as it is tall, and fern-like leaves. In early summer it is covered in scarlet-orange flowers. It grows 30 to 40 feet tall and needs a frost-free climate. Young trees can take 5 to 10 years to flower.
Wisteria-Like Vines and a Native Wisteria
Chilean Potato Vine (Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’)
Chilean potato vine, sometimes called Chilean potato tree, is a scrambling shrub from Chile that is usually grown on a wall, fence or arbor. From late spring through summer it has clusters of fragrant, purple-blue, star-shaped flowers with yellow centers, much longer than wisteria’s short bloom. It is related to the potato, and its small berries are poisonous. It grows fast to 10 to 20 feet and should be pruned in spring.
American and Kentucky Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
If you want real wisteria, grow a native one. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) and Kentucky wisteria (W. macrostachya, shown) are native to the eastern U.S. They are much less aggressive than Chinese and Japanese wisteria, flower on new growth, and bloom when they are only a few years old. Their flower clusters are shorter, 6 to 12 inches long. ‘Amethyst Falls’ is a compact American wisteria, and ‘Blue Moon’ is a very hardy Kentucky wisteria that often reblooms. Train either one on a sturdy post into a small “tree wisteria” standard, and prune it twice a year.
How to Choose a Wisteria Alternative
- Cold winters (zones 4–7): golden chain tree, or a native wisteria trained as a standard.
- Hot, dry climates (zones 8–11): Texas mountain laurel, chaste tree or tree wisteria.
- Frost-free climates: jacaranda, pink trumpet tree or royal poinciana.
- Small gardens: Texas mountain laurel, tree wisteria or a trained ‘Amethyst Falls’ wisteria.
- Children and pets: wisteria, golden chain tree, Texas mountain laurel and Chilean potato vine all have poisonous seeds or berries.
