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.
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.
