When the wisteria is blooming, you know it's spring in the South. These fragrant flowers can be seen dripping over fences and clambering up arbors. And although they are common in the South, wisteria can be grown almost anywhere in the country.
The delicate drooping clusters of baby blue and soft lavender flowers color the landscape in late spring in the South and late May in the North. Wisteria is a woody vine that can grow ten feet a year and up to 30 feet high. Underneath the blanket of flowers is a vigorous trunk that twists up any structure it touches.
Some Asian varieties, such as Japanese wisteria or the Chinese variety (sinensis), can be quite invasive in the South. In fact, it's sometimes called "wicked wisteria" because it can literally choke the life out of a tree, if its sheer weight doesn't topple it first. As you can imagine, these Asian wisterias require a lot of space and major pruning to keep them in check. However, there are some new varieties native to North America that are more restrained and much better suited for backyard gardens.
To plant wisteria, you need an area that gets a minimum of six hours of sun a day. You also need a very strong structure such as a metal trellis or arbor. A wooden lattice won't support the vine, and it will eventually topple over. As for soil conditions, wisteria grows in just about anything, but the more acidic the soil, the better. You can amend the soil with compost, peat moss or pine needles.
Dig a hole as deep as the container. If your plant is root bound, gently loosen the roots with your fingers. Place the wisteria in the hole right next to the arbor or structure you want the vines to climb up. Next fill in the hole with soil. It's best if the roots of your wisteria are in the shade, and the leaves are exposed to as much sun as possible. Wrap the vines around the structure to get the process started, and the plant will begin to take care of itself.
Once your wisteria is planted, keep it well watered and don't forget to fertilize just once a year. But now comes the hard part--waiting. In some cases, wisteria can take seven years to bloom, but some have been known to bloom in as little as three years. So be patient, and eventually the blooms will come.
After your wisteria is established, it's important to maintain a regular pruning schedule. You don't want to allow the vines to grow randomly and get out of control. Pruning not only helps reduce the vigor of the plant, it encourages flower production. After the blooms have faded, start by removing all the spent flowers and aggressive runner vines. In late summer, continue removing new growth that doesn't conform to your structure. When the plant is dormant in the winter, a touch-up pruning may be needed as well. There are many different pruning techniques, each suited for specific varieties of wisteria, so check with your local garden center to find out which technique is best for your wisteria.
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