Hardenbergia, also called "Australian wisteria", is an elegant, vigorous climbing plant, native to Australia. With its beautiful clusters of violet, pink or white flowers depending on variety, it brightens garden in late winter or early spring. To maintain its beauty, vigour or limit its spread, regular pruning is necessary. Discover our step-by-step advice to learn how to prune your Hardenbergia in garden.

pruning of Australian wisteria

Why prune Hardenbergia?

Pruning Australian wisteria has several aims:

  • Control its growth : It is a plant that grows rapidly and can become invasive if not maintained.
  • Stimulate flowering : A light, well-executed prune stimulates production of new shoots and therefore encourages plant to produce more flowers next year.
  • Maintain attractive habit : Pruning helps keep plant harmonious, whether on a trellis, a pergola or as groundcover.
  • Remove dead or diseased parts : to strengthen overall health of plant.

When to prune Hardenbergia?

Best time to prune Australian wisteria is just after flowering, that is in late spring. Why after flowering? Simply because Hardenbergia flowers on last year's shoots. If you prune too late (late summer or autumn), you risk compromising next flowering.

Necessary equipment

Tip : Always disinfect your tools before starting to prune, in order to avoid passing diseases from one plant to another.

How to prune Hardenbergia step by step?

1- Start by identifying dry, damaged or diseased stems. Cut them at the base or at first healthy intersection.

2- Hardenbergia tends to spread generously. To control its growth, shorten main stems. Prune them according to space you want to give, without cutting more than one third of branches so as not to compromise next flowering.

3- Open up interior of plant by removing branches that cross or grow towards centre. This allows a little space and light to reach plant's heart.

4- For dense, compact branching, lightly prune tips of twigs. This stimulates growth of new lateral shoots, which will produce more flowers next season.

Tip : Always cut just above a node (where leaves grow), preferably facing outwards, to encourage new branching.

pruning Hardenbergia step by step

After pruning Australian wisteria

Once pruning is finished, give your Hardenbergia a little extra care:

  • Watering : Water lightly after pruning, especially if soil is dry to reduce stress caused by cutting.
  • Mulching : Apply an organic mulch (straw, hay, bark, etc) at base of plant to retain moisture and protect soil (and roots) from temperature fluctuations, in summer as in winter.
  • Fertilisation and fertiliser : In spring, add well-rotted compost or well-rotted manure to naturally enrich soil, to favour growth and prepare next flowering. You can also use an organic fertiliser specially for climbing plants, low in nitrogen (N) but high in phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not prune too severely : Excessive pruning can stress Hardenbergia and reduce its flowering next year. Do not prune more than one third of plant per year.
  • Avoid pruning before flowering : You would risk removing flower buds.
  • Do not use fertilisers too rich in nitrogen (N) : This would favour foliage to detriment of flowers.