Grafting Wisteria

Wistera frames a doorway

Grafting is the process of inserting part of one plant into another in a way that enables them to grow as a single plant. Planting grafted wisteria, rather than propagating it by seed, allows growers to see wisteria blooms sooner.

Whip Grafting

Whip grafting, a common way of propagating wisteria, is performed during winter when the plant is dormant. A healthy scion and rootstock are taken. A scion is the part of the plant selected for its stems, leaves and flowers, in short, the genetics of the plant. Scions should have at least three buds. The rootstock, or stock, provides the new plant's root system and sometimes the lower part of the stem. Whip grafting works best with stock and scion of equal diameter and less than 1 inch thick.

Tongue Cutting

First, identical diagonal cuts are made on both the scion and stock, with the length of the cut being four to five times the stock or scion diameter. The second, or tongue cut, involves cutting each section by placing the knife on the surface of the first cut, and bringing it down through the pith until it is opposite the base of the first cut but tends to parallel the first cut. The tongues are inserted into each other, with buds pointing upward, until they interlock, and then they are wrapped tightly with masking tape.

Healing

The grafted area is covered with tape until healing is completed. When growth begins, competing side shoots are removed.

References

• Washington State University Whatcom County Extension; Grafting and Budding Plants; F.E. Larsen
• Washington State University Extension; Growing Wisteria; C.P. Barden, et al.; February 2003
• West Virginia University Extension Service; Whip Grafting; J.W. Jett; 1997
• University of Missouri Extension; Grafting; R.R. Rothenberger, et al.; December 2008

Resources

• Alabama Cooperative Ext. System Marion County; Wisteria -- A Classic Example; S. Lee; April 2010