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 wisteria floribundaWisterias
 wisteria floribunda close-up
Wisterias are quick growing and long lived. Their stems are a favourite food of the borer beetle but rarely do they kill whole plants. While stems may crumble and die new stems are always there to replace the dying ones.
For maximum production of flowers plant in full sun or where the flowering top of the plant is in full sun. Wisterias need well drained soil with plenty of moisture through the spring and summer period. Don’t be afraid to prune off at the base any unwanted stems that are produced during the growing season. And keep a look out for suckering stems which must be removed unless you want more plants. They have this tendency to sucker in sandy or light soils.
Wisteria can be trained up mature trees, along pergolas, up pillars and along fences. Place where the flowers and fragrance can be appreciated. Another feature are the lovely yellow leaves in autumn before they fall to carpet the ground with their finely cut leaves.
If space permits one can have Wisterias flowering in the garden from early spring to mid summer by carefully choosing different varieties.
 wisteria sinensis
Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria
Bear long racemes of flowers which exceed 30 cms in length and cascade in tiers from the woody stems.Colour is a blend of purple blue and white. As the slightly fragrant flowers expand and open the lime green new leaves appear and frame the effect. A great variety to train as a standard. All the long racemes varieties are best trained on supports where they can drape and show their flowers off to best effect. This is a strong growing climber that requires regular pruning. Shorten new growths back to three leaves in late summer and remove any unwanted stems. There are many cultivars of Floribunda .I have listed the more commonly available varieties.
Wisteria floribunda Black Dragon
Violet blue fully double flowers in long racemes . A very beautiful form whose leaves appear after the flowers.
Wisteria floribunda Snow Showers
Flowers later than floribunda and usually coincides with the peak of the rose flowering through November. Long green buds open to pure white. The leaves follow flowering. Lovely grown against a dark background. Also as a standard plant.
Wisteria floribunda Lavender and Lace
Pale mauve flowers on 40 cm long racemes.
Wisteria floribunda Pink Ice
Pink flowers on 40 cm long racemes
Wisteria sinensis Chinese Wisteria
The flower racemes are shorter and more closely packed with a deeper colouring and very strongly fragrant flowers. The up to 20 cm long racemes emerge on bare branches and the leaves don’t appear until the flowers have begun to shed. It is not uncommon for this variety to produce a few flowers during late summer. Prune the same as for floribunda.
Wisteria sinensis Amethyst
Bright rose lavender flowers on 14 cm long racemes. The strongest scented Wisteria to date. Young stems and new leaves are distinctively copper coloured until they reach maturity.
Wisteria sinensis Blue Sapphire
Blue and mauve flowers on 15cm racemes. A very fragrant smaller grower.
Wisteria sinensis Caroline.
Pale lavender highly fragrant flowers on tightly packed racemes of 18cms in length. A smaller growing variety which suits container growing.
Wisteria sinensis royal Purple.
Only a light fragrance but gorgeous dark purple flowers on very long 38 cm racemes. One of the first to start flowering in spring.
Wisteria venusta Silky Wisteria
A distinct species with silky buds and new leaves. In spring the broad short racemes are produced with the flowers. I have grown this as a vigorous ground cover over a troublesome bank and could look down onto the upright flower racemes. Highly fragrant.
 wisteria sinensis close-up
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