American Wisteria Botanical name: Wisteria frutescens The American wisteria is obviously native to the United States, as the name suggests and is a highly popular choice among a majority of the northern gardeners who wish to grow a wisteria vine. Reliable to minus 40, it will bloom in colder areas where Chinese wisteria never will. This is a variety of a native vine known as Kentucky wisteria, which is not as aggressive as Chinese wisteria. Growing American Wisteria Keep this breathtaking flowering vine in check by choosing the native variety. The American Wisteria In forests and along the banks of streams, over an area stretching from New York State, to Iowa, and through Virginia south into Florida and Texas, can be found the American Wisteria. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gleaned from venerable old plants at historic sites, temples and ancient palaces, they were assured early and abundant bloom. Get Pricing and Availability. It produces dense clusters of blue-purple, two-lipped, flowers 2 cm (3⁄4 in) wide on racemes 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long in late spring to early summer. Be aware that wisteria vines will grow into any crack or crevice so be very careful planting it near or onto your home. $37.99 $ 37. 99. It also has a stronger fragrance, and is very close in overall appearance to Chinese wisteria, without its rampant ways. Zones: 5-9. adroll_language = "en_US"; https://www.thetreecenter.com/blue-moon-wisteria/. While still an aggressive plant, American wisteria grows only two-thirds as tall as its Asian cousins, and its racemes, or pendulous blossoms, are half as long, rounded and more compact—resembling bunches of grapes. Many plants grown from seed can be genetically variable with any number of characteristics resulting in the offspring. How to Prune Wisteria. North America's Non-Invasive Wisteria Why Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vines? Wisteria frutescens: American Wisteria. The sugary scent of this perennial vine's flower heralds the start of a much-anticipated gardening season. American Wisteria American wisteria climbs above an arched front door and stone entrance. This species is native to North America. Chinese Wisteria. Consequently, one can not eliminate varieties merely by color alone. adroll_adv_id = "RK545AVNKVEJFFRYPAE7DC"; American wisteria, such as this 'Amethyst Falls' cultivar, is far less aggressive than the Asian varieties. No doubt, these spectacular vines are coveted for their breathtakingly fragrant, pendulous blossoms in lavender, pink and white. Not content with a single display in spring on its bare branches, this plant returns in summer with more blooms, this time nestled among the large, ferny leaves. Sierra Madre, California, holds an annual \"Wistaria Festival\" every March, durin… Japanese wisteria vines grow clockwise. It is a more controlled plant than the Chinese version and has added seasonal interest with its velvet pods. It produces masses of hanging sprays, up to 6 in. Plants grow 15 to 20 feet tall. Wisteria contains substances — lectin and wisterin — which are poisonous for pets and people so exercise caution in planting and keep children and animals away from the plant if you intend to grow it. American Wisteria Is the Native Choice As an alternative, consider growing the less invasive American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Wistaria frutescens) is a woody vine that produces beautiful hanging clusters of purple flowers. 1- to 3-foot-long chain-like clusters of flowers, called racemes. Yet it is far less vigorous than most wisterias. Lavender flowers occur in short chains (racemes) and are lightly scented. Plants grow 15 to 20 feet tall. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Chinese wisteria (scientific name, Wisteria sinensis) is a deciduous perennial vine with a twining growth habit. It can also be trained into a small tree or standard. All rights reserved. American Wisteria occurs infrequently in low open woods throughout much of the southeastern coastal plain area. Twining, woody vine prized for its huge 15 to 18 inch pendulous clusters of very fragrant white flowers. Clever bonsai growers even train this plant into dwarf specimens, where the smaller flower clusters are more in scale, creating a stunning miniature scene. Wisteria is an aggressive climber and needs very sturdy supports to grow without collapsing their trellis or pergola. And although for the most part its flowers don't emit the wonderfully sweet fragrance of the Asian species, this species is a repeat bloomer and — best of all — is valued for its manageability. There are two main forms of this plant grown in gardens, and each have their own special properties and charms. In early spring, just as the buds begin to swell, younger branches should be cut back to the fattest buds, which form at the base of the stems. As the name suggests, this wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya ‘Betty Matthews’) bursts into flower in summer, typically June. This brings wisteria within the reach of almost everyone, so northern gardeners no longer need to look in envy at those southern arbors dripping in blue. Nothing says the South quite like a front porch shrouded in a springtime veil of lavender drooping wisteria. Monrovia Amethyst Falls American Wisteria. The plant's name is sometimes spelled wisataria, in keeping with the anatomist Casper Wistar, from whom the plant takes its name. Since it grows no more than 25 feet tall, it can easily fit onto a fence or arbor, or climb into a large tree. That new plant will share the exact same heavy blooming genes of its parent. Wisteria floribunda 'Issai Perfect' SKU. It will not engulf all in its path, as can happen with the common Chinese wisteria. Wisteria actually needs a bit of stress to form its flower buds and too much water or fertilizer will encourage leaf production rather than encourage flowering. Most gardeners are unaware of the wide range of characteristics offered by Wisteria species and their cultivars in terms of bloom season, fragrance, length of flower clusters (racemes), flower colors, fall foliage. Capable of growing to a height of 35 feet, the woody vine Japanese wisteria has been found to be invasive from mid-Atlantic to southeastern states. The flowers of most varieties are heavily scented. Growth is less vigorous than Asian species, but still gets big given time. Perhaps it was the enthusiasm for all things Chinese that happened in gardening around the beginning of the last century, but for whatever reason, America’s own Wisteria is, as the saying goes, “a stranger in its own land”. Chinese wisteria is a sinensis producing flower clusters up to twelve inches long that open together. Before the advent of the modern American nursery, wisteria growing was a cottage industry with very little control of parentage. Even a small plant can produce if carefully pruned.This time plant collectors sent home-rooted cuttings of the best of the Chinese and Japanese plants. And unlike other wisterias, it offers a repeat bloom in late summer or early fall. In these early years only the seeds were exported from China and Japan. Wisteria loves to grow in loose, loamy soil that has plenty of nutrients and proper aeration. The problem with seedlings is you don't know if you have a 20-year bloomer until at least 10 years have passed. Wisteria performs best when pruned in spring after blooming. Is it a vine or a tree. This encourages the development of those basal flower buds and ensures a profuse display of blooms. Bloom time is in summer, later than other species. The most common solution is to shock the plant into bloom. Wisteria is prized for its lovely flowering performance. FREE Shipping by Amazon. This rambling beauty has delicate pinnate leaves divided into 9 to 15 leaflets. The blooms hang down in large clusters that reach 12 inches or more, and the individual flowers are purple-blue – a stunning effect. The blooms will arrive later, on new growth (after frost), after foliage is already set. Twining plant grows about a third the rate of Asian wisteria for better behavior in small spaces. It requires pruning twice a year: once in the winter, and once in the summer. 'Amethyst Falls' (American Wisteria) Vine, deep blue-purple flowers, #2 - Size Container. The flowers expand into hanging clusters at least six inches long, with a soft, elusive fragrance. So consider yourself warned: Chinese wisteria can be maintained, but will require at least a monthly pruning to control the growth. As the climbing branches elongate, the vine gets heavy and creates a romantic, weeping effect. Those first exported Asian wisteria seeds were just as variable, and so were their offspring. Wisteria floribunda 'Lawrence' Pale violet-blue flowers. Plant width is variable and really depends on the type of structure that supports the wisteria. Wisteria plants can be purchased or seeds can be planted. This plant, Wisteria frutescens, twins up into trees to the relatively modest height of only 25 feet, making it a lot more manageable in gardens than its Chinese cousin. The Chinese variety is not as fragrant as the Japanese. 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