wisteria

American  

[wi-steer-ee-uh] / wɪˈstɪər i ə /

Also wistaria

noun

1. any climbing shrub belonging to the genus Wisteria, of the legume family, having showy, pendent clusters of blue-violet, white, purple, or rose flowers.

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wisteria British  

/ wɪˈstɪərɪə /

noun

1. any twining leguminous woody climbing plant of the genus Wisteria, of E Asia and North America, having blue, purple, or white flowers in large drooping clusters

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Etymology

Origin of wisteria

< New Latin Wistaria (1818), named after Caspar Wistar (1761–1818), U.S. anatomist; -ia

Example Sentences

"I thought I would catch Lady Bridgerton at the Bridgerton House," she says, "but there were no wisteria or carriages to be seen."

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

She says it made her appreciate the show's dressing and post-production work, with the exterior transformed with wisteria and made to look like it was surrounded by other properties.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

He recalled once seeing David propagating a flourishing flat of white wisteria, which is particularly hard to grow, and wondered how he’d managed to do it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

Of course, pruning said wisteria is decidedly not romantic but speaks to the devotion and care a gardener is willing to invest in special garden spaces.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

Matt pushed aside the wisteria and went into the pump house.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer