How Do The Wisteria Flowers Work In Demon Slayer?

Contains mild spoilers for "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"

Created by studio Ufotable and based on the manga of the same name, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" is a sprawling fantasy anime series that builds up a world of ghosts, demons, and demon hunters within the narrative. The series focuses on Tanjiro Kamado, a teenage boy who discovers that a demon has murdered his entire family — save for his younger sister Nezuko, who has herself been transformed into a demon. Soon, Tanjiro and Nezuko become entangled in the ancient secret society known as the Demon Slayer Corps as they seek a cure for Nezuko's condition.

Several bits of demon lore emerge in the first season's 26 episodes — including how demons are created, their physical differences, how they get stronger, the story of the Original Demon Muzan, and how demons can be defeated. The object of the wisteria flower stands out as important to the mythology of the show, especially when it comes to stopping demons.

The fourth episode of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" introduces wisteria flowers and explains how they have powerful medicinal properties, especially as a toxin. When concentrated, the smell of the wisteria flower is an excellent demon repellent. The flower works particularly well against low-ranked demons, and when used on regular, higher-ranking demons, it can paralyze them at the very least. 

Given the danger the plants pose, demons tend to avoid wisteria flowers as much as possible. This is exactly why the home base of the Demon Slayer Corps surrounds itself with the flowers, as it keeps their headquarters (mostly) safe from harm. The significance of the flower doesn't stop there for the demon slayers, though, as wisteria is used to engrave the ranks of Demon Slayer Corp members onto their hands. The flower stands as a powerful symbol for the organization.

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" has aired only season as of this writing (May 2021), but later storylines in the manga series suggest that wisteria flowers will play a huge part in the general mythology. So far there's been a sequel film, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train," and a second season of the anime was previously confirmed, so fans should be excited to reenter the demon world sometime in 2021. Just be sure to have some wisteria flowers on hand.