How to Harvest Wisteria Vine Seeds
In the US, Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) are vines that grow in average garden soil and can climb to 60 feet or more. They are perennial, meaning they multiply and bloom every year from a single planting, and produce sweet-smelling showy purple or white flowers that hang in grape-like clusters. Following the bloom period, the vine produces seeds from 4-6 inch long velvety brown seed pods.
The flat, hard, brown seeds are gathered after the seed pods turn from green to grey to brown, and split open, exposing the seeds. They are held on the vines throughout late summer and winter. Wisteria seeds are poisonous if consumed.
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Instructions
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Observe a wisteria vine that is a prolific producer of flower clusters early in the season when wisteria normally bloom. Gather seed from a vine that has good flowering characteristics. Many times a wisteria does not bloom or has weak blooms for many years after planting, so picking seeds from a plant with good bloom production means you collected seeds from a productive parent that may transfer the higher blooming potential to the seed.
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Allow the wisteria to decline throughout the winter as it loses leaves and nothing is left on the vine but the velvety seed pods. Don't collect green or gray seed pods as they are not ready for harvest.
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Collect brown seed pods that are partially split exposing ther brown shiny seeds inside. Wear garden gloves to protect hands. Cut seed pods from vine where they are connected to the main growth with scissors. Pulling the seed pods can tear the vine away from its growing support.
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Drop seed pods in a dry container for transportating to a processing location.
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Process seed pods by breaking them open and collecting the seeds. Store seeds in a small paper bag in a cool dry area until spring when they can be planted.
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Tips & Warnings
Wisteria seeds are poisonous. Wear gloves if handling a large number of seeds because toxin could potentially be absorbed through your skin.
