I have a bad case of wisteria hysteria. Wisteria, aka one of my favorite flowers, is a vining plant that has spectacular cascading purple, pink, or blue blooms. In Ohio, it normally blooms in the late spring. These photos were taken in early May. I dream of having a Bridgerton-esque home that is covered in wisteria, even though you’re not supposed to do that. I guess I’ll have to settle for a trellis covered in wisteria. If you’re anything like me, you too will have wisteria hysteria after seeing these beauties in real life. Are you wondering where to find wisteria in Columbus, Ohio? Keep reading to find out!
Columbus doesn’t have the abundant wisteria of London or Washington, D.C., but I was impressed to find out that Central Ohio has some pretty great spots for viewing these fragrant blooms. There are spots to view wisteria downtown, in the Short North, in German Village, and even in Westerville!
Okay, now on to the actual list.
Schiller Park in German Village
First up is the incredible wisteria at Schiller Park in German Village! I wasn’t expecting to find this but I saw it from the road while I was driving by and immediately pulled over to enjoy it. It’s definitely the highlight of the park.
Along the Scioto Mile downtown
Second on the list is the Scioto Mile in downtown Columbus. I was so excited to see the PINK wisteria! I had never seen the pink variety before. To get to this spot, I recommend parking somewhere to the east of the river since there isn’t much parking on the west side. You’ll have to walk across the Main Street bridge, then turn right down the path.
Pro tip: if the National Veteran’s Memorial and Museum garden is open (it’s open from dawn until 5 PM), walk along the path to get a good view of the tops of the trellises. It’s free to walk in the garden. But you should also check out the museum if you get the chance.
Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio
It’s always a good time to visit a park. The wisteria at Inniswood Metro Gardens is lovely because it grows on an arch, which makes for great photos. This year, the blooms aren’t as amazing as they have been in the past, but they are still nice. There is always next year.
Chadwick Arboretum at Ohio State
I haven’t been to Chadwick Arboretum to see the wisteria in real life, but I have seen it from photos. It looks wonderful. Plus, there are so many other plants to see when you visit. It’s definitely worth stopping by.
Bonus: The Lox Bagel Shop!
Lastly, we have the patio at The Lox bagel shop! They have a pergola over the patio that is covered in native/North American wisteria. All the others on this list were the Asian species of wisteria. The blooms look slightly different, but they are still wonderful. This spot is amazing because you can grab a delicious bagel (my Saturday morning tradition – make sure you get a side of house hot sauce), sit outside on the patio, and enjoy the flora around you.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this list about wisteria hysteria and where to find it in Columbus. Do you have a particular spot where you like to go to see flowers in the spring? Please let me know!
-K
Follow along!