Discover glorious wisterias at Shanghai's Chenshan garden

LMS
en.sheshantravel.gov.cn| Updated: March 31, 2024

After the cherry blossoms fade, it's time for wisterias to take center stage at the Chenshan Botanical Garden, from early April to early May.

The Chenshan Botanical Garden – located in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort, in Shanghai's Songjiang district – is the largest botanical garden in East China.

Currently, it's enveloped in the sweet aroma of wisterias, with the wonderful flowers in full bloom, making it the perfect time to visit.

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A canopy of lilac-colored wisterias graces a section of the Chenshan garden. [Photo/eastday.com]

As you wander through the garden, you'll encounter wisteria vines gracefully climbing up pergolas, their branches adorned with sumptuous purple flowers reminiscent of a painting. These heady clusters of wisterias  sway gently in the breeze, exuding a delightful almost intoxicating fragrance.

Chenshan Botanical Garden is home to over 20 different types of wisterias – adorning pergolas with their rich hues and even pruned into bush shapes, offering awesome vistas. Towards the end of April, the Wisteria Corridor near Gate 2 literally bursts with flowers, presenting a magnificent sight to behold.

Originating from East Asia and North America, wisterias have long been cherished in Chinese gardens. Introduced to Europe and North America in 1816, wisterias swiftly became a favorite for garden adornments. Unlike Japanese wisterias, Chinese wisterias bloom earlier and display a distinct twisting pattern on their vines.

An interesting fact is that wisterias aren't just purple; there are also white varieties. In autumn, wisteria pods hang from the vines, creating a visually entrancing scene. Even in winter, when the leaves fall off, the twisted branches of wisterias impart a special charm to the garden.