Wisteria sinensis (syn. 'Caroline') 'AMETHYST' Chinese wisteria

Chinese wisteria is no doubt the queen of flowering climbers. Amethyst is a special variety with shorter but fat racemes of rich violet, very fragrant flowers. They are about 20 cm long and appear on bare wood from the first warm days of April and continue blooming for 4-5 weeks. They are followed by bean-like seedpods which are poisonous. Rather exotic looking pinnate leaves are mid green and compared to foliage of the species Amethyst wisteria has smaller, more rounded leaflets that have red stalks and new twigs. As the plant is a vigorous grower the leaves densely cover the plant and its support. Older and well-established plants of Chinese wisteria usually offers second blooming in early summer, this time on the background of fully leaved plant.

The support is necessary even for tree forms because the wood remains very flexible for many years. Wisteria flowers mainly on short spurs so cut back unwanted side branches to 2-3 buds to encourage formation of flowering spurs.

It needs moist, acidic soil. Young plants require a sheltered place, mature plants (and those with a stem) are fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 10-09-2012