IN BRIEF<\/strong><\/p>

What<\/strong> Five species and two hybrid groups of vigorous, woody climbers with twining stems. <\/p>

Origins<\/strong> Most are found in Japan, but wisteria are also native to China and the USA. The three most commonly grown species in the UK are Wisteria<\/em> floribunda<\/em> (Japanese wisteria), Wisteria<\/em> sinensis<\/em> (Chinese wisteria) and Wisteria<\/em> brachybotrys<\/em> (silky wisteria).<\/p>

Season<\/strong> Most flower April to June, but some can flower as late as July. <\/p>

Size<\/strong> Wisteria are strong-growing plants that can reach up to 20m, although their eventual size will largely be determined by the allotted space. Wisterias can be kept to a height of 2m if grown on a post. <\/p>

Conditions<\/strong> In the wild, wisteria are found in woodland areas with their roots in shade and leaves in the tree canopy in full sun. Although happiest in moist, well-drained soils, wisteria will grow in most soils. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

Other cultivars worth looking out for are the white-flowered W. sinensis<\/em> \u2018Jako’, which has longer racemes and a very powerful scent, especially at dusk when its presence is quite ghostly, and the violet-mauve W. sinensis<\/em> \u2018Amethyst\u2019, one of the most highly scented cultivars.<\/p>

Whichever wisteria you choose, these vigorous climbers in full flower are a glorious sight to behold and provided you ensure they are grown in the right conditions \u2013 and are properly trained and pruned<\/a> \u2013 your success in growing one is virtually guaranteed.<\/p>

How to grow wisteria<\/h2>
How to train wisteria<\/h3>
Although wisteria is often seen trained along wires on a house or a wall, it can also be extremely effective grown up pergola<\/a> supports or archways \u2013 especially in the case of wisterias with long racemes that are best admired without branches or foliage getting in the way \u2013 or as a standard wisteria tree up a post. But no matter how you train your wisteria, the importance of initial training can\u2019t be stressed strongly enough:<\/p>
Wisteria are long-lived and will form thick woody stems that will require a sturdy main support<\/a>. However, only one shoot should be trained up and along this main support.<\/li>
If you\u2019re growing against a wall, use strong metal wires (3mm galvanised steel) set at least 45cm apart.<\/li>
Check growth throughout the growing season, and again in autumn when the growing season has ended. Where shoots have turned round the wires or posts they should be untwined and tied back to the wire using thin plastic tubing material.<\/li>
If two or more main shoots turn round each other, stronger shoots will eventually strangle the weakest, and if shoots are not untwined from the wires it will mean the wire will be part of the main stem when the shoot thickens.<\/li>
You can also grow wisteria up a tree, which is a much simpler process. Plant the wisteria some distance from the tree, near the outside branches, and tie jute fillis twine from the plant to the branch. Once the shoot has reached the branches it will then soon make its way into the tree and the fillis twine will rot away.<\/li><\/ul>
How to prune wisteria<\/h3>
Many people find the idea of pruning wisteria daunting but it\u2019s not as tricky as it might seem. Pruning is essential for wisteria, not only to keep the plant\u2019s growth in check but also to improve the chance of flower buds forming.<\/p>
Wisteria should be pruned twice a year, once in summer (July or August) and again in winter (January\/February). Read our in-depth guide to pruning wisteria<\/a>.<\/p>
20 of the best wisteria to grow<\/h2>
Wisteria sinensis<\/em> \u2018Prolific\u2019<\/h3>
Wisteria sinensis \u2018Prolific\u2019 – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This sweetly scented cultivar is the original W. sinesis<\/em> introduced from China, and one of the best for growing on a wall. Its soft blue-violet racemes (16-22cm), contain around 50 to 80 flowers.<\/p>
Wisteria sinensis<\/em> \u2018Amethyst\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria sinensis ‘Amethyst’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A moderately vigorous cultivar from New Zealand. Its racemes, though relatively short (12-18cm), are strongly scented and reddish violet. Leaves are bronze when young.<\/p>
Wisteria brachybotrys<\/em> \u2018Okayama\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria brachybotris ‘Okayama’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A strongly scented and vigorous cultivar that deserves to be more widely grown. Its leaves are a rich, bronze colour when young, and its racemes (12-20cm) are mauve-purple, with a central white blotch.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Yae-Kokuryu\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda \u2018Yae-Kokuryu\u2019 – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Each flower of this distinctive cultivar has 20 petal-like elements, giving it a rich, dark appearance. Its long racemes (33-38cm) have dark violet tips and a faint scent.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Royal Purple\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda ‘Royal Purple’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The darkest-flowered form currently available. Moderately vigorous and sweetly scented, its long racemes (27-40cm) hold more than 90 purple-violet flowers.<\/p>
Wisteria brachybotrys<\/em> \u2018Shiro-kapitan\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Shiro-Kapitan’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This vigorous plant, the earliest white-flowered cultivar to flower, looks good grown on a red brick wall. Its short (10-20cm) racemes hold 20-35 white flowers, each with a faint, yellow blotch.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> f. Multijuga<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda ‘Multijuga’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Best displayed on a pergola, where its long (over 1m), pale-violet racemes can hang down free from any emerging foliage, this is one of the best wisterias available. Vigorous.<\/p>
Wisteria x formosa<\/em> \u2018Caroline\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria ‘Caroline’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
When this moderately vigorous, mauve-blue hybrid was first introduced from New Zealand, it was sold as \u2018Amethyst\u2019, but is quite different, with longer racemes (17-21cm) and a faint scent.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Lavender Lace\u2019<\/h3>
Sweetly scented, long racemes (42-54cm) with flowers that delicately blend pale and deeper violet colours, make this a good choice for pergolas. Young bronze foliage adds additional interest.<\/p>
Wisteria<\/em> floribunda<\/em> \u2018Alba\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteris floribunda ‘Alba’ – http:\/\/\u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Also known as \u2018Shiro-noda\u2019, this vigorous cultivar is one of the last to flower. Lovely white fowers with a small yellow blotch and a faint scent. Racemes are relatively long (36-48cm).<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> Macrobotrys Group \u2018Burford\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria ‘Burford’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
An excellent cultivar that may belong in the new W. x valderi<\/em> group. Named from a plant growing on the wall of Burford House, Tenbury Wells. It grows well up a tree.<\/p>
Wisteria x valderi<\/em> \u2018Eranthema\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria ‘Eranthema’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A good bluish-mauve hybrid with long (35-45cm), broad racemes offering a wonderful show. Young shoots are brown in colour, a trait inherited from itsW. brachybotrys<\/em> parent.<\/p>
Wisteria x formosa<\/em> \u2018Enchantment\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria ‘Enchantment’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This lovely hybrid, raised by Audrey Menzies in Australia, is very floriferous, and not too vigorous. With moderately long (17-21cm), bluish-mauve racemes, it\u2019s a good form for all types of training.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Lawrence\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda \u2018Lawrence\u2019 – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This vigorous cultivar, which was selected in Canada, is one of my favourites. It has long (36-50cm), densely packed, blue-mauve racemes and a glorious sweet scent.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> Macrobotrys Group \u2018Hocker Edge\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria ‘Hocker Edge’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A cultivar in the same group as \u2018Burford\u2019 and just as attractive. Very vigorous, with long (42-60cm), mauve-violet racemes and a moderate scent.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Kimono\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda ‘Kimono’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This delicate-looking cultivar, with whitish flowers on a mauve calyx, is one of the most admired in my collection and a personal favourite. Very floriferous and moderately vigorous, racemes are 35-42cm long.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Rosea\u2019<\/h3>
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Wisteria floribunda ‘Rosea’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Also known as Hon-beni<\/em> this pretty cultivar has soft lavender-pink flowers and a faint scent. Moderately vigorous with longish (32-40cm) racemes, it is one that works especially well grown over a pergola.<\/p>
Wisteria floribunda<\/em> \u2018Kuchi-beni\u2019<\/h3>
$\"\"$
Wisteria floribunda ‘Kuchibeni’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Has a delicate colour, which many people love, and racemes that are 36-45cm long with around 76 to 86 very pale, mauve-pink flowers. Is moderately vigorous and has a some scent. Best not grown in full sun.<\/p>
Wisteria sinensis<\/em> \u2018Jako\u2019<\/h3>
$\"\"$
Wisteria sinensis \u2018Jako\u2019 – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
In Japan this is known as Nioi-fuji<\/em>, which translates as fragrant wisteria, and it certainly lives up to that name. One of the least vigorous wisterias, with moderately long (25-38cm) racemes.<\/p>
Wisteria brachybotrys<\/em> \u2018Showa-beni\u2019<\/h3>
$\"\"$
Wisteria brachybotris ‘Showa-Beni’ – \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A vigorous cultivar that flowers early with shortish (12-20cm) racemes that are a rich mauvish pink. Nicely scented, it\u2019s possibly the best pink cultivar available.<\/p>
Where to see wisteria<\/h2>
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens<\/a>, Jermyns Lane, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0QA. Tel 01794 369317\/318<\/p>
Nymans<\/a>, Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EB. Tel 01444 405250,<\/p>
Witch Hazel Nursery<\/a>, The Granary, Cranbrook Farm, Callaways Lane, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7LU. Tel 01795 843098. National Collection, open on selected days only.<\/p>
Where to buy wisteria<\/h2>
Ashridge Nurseries<\/a>, Grove Cross Barn, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7NJ. Tel 01963 359444.<\/p>
Bluebell Nursery and Arboretum<\/a>, Annwell Lane, Smisby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 2TA. Tel 01530 413700.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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How to prune wisteria<\/h3>Many people find the idea of pruning wisteria daunting but it\u2019s not as tricky as it might seem. Pruning is essential for wisteria, not only to keep the plant\u2019s growth in check but also to improve the chance of flower buds forming.<\/p>