Wisteria frutescens
American wisteria
This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Position: full sun or light, dappled shade
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May to June
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A strong growing, aromatic deciduous climber with twining stems and attractive mid-dark green leaves divided into narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. Masses of lilac-purple pea-like blooms, hang down in pendulous racemes in late spring or early summer. Raised from a cutting, this wisteria is in flower earlier than seed-grown forms.
- Garden care: Incorporate some well-rotted organic matter and mycorrhizal fungi when planting your Wisteria and keep well-watered until established, particularly in dry summers. Prune in July to reduce the long thin green growth and again in January to further reduce these stems to encourage flower buds.
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten