Other Names:  syn. Kraunhia frutescens, Wisteria macrostachya

Description:

This native wisteria features deliciously fragrant, pale lilac-purple flowers in spring that look like grape clusters; flowers on new wood; vines can grow quite woody and provide gorgeous dense coverage for an arbor or trellis; provide strong support

Ornamental Features

American Wisteria is clothed in stunning chains of fragrant lilac purple pea-like flowers with purple overtones and yellow eyes hanging below the branches from mid to late spring. It has green deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The narrow pinnately compound leaves turn yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

American Wisteria is a multi-stemmed deciduous woody vine with a twining and trailing habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance woody vine that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

American Wisteria is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

American Wisteria will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. As a climbing vine, it tends to be leggy near the base and should be underplanted with low-growing facer plants. It should be planted near a fence, trellis or other landscape structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it, or allowed to trail off a retaining wall or slope. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This woody vine should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.