Wisteria

Q: How do I get my wisteria to flower?

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Q: When does wisteria flower?

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Q: What support does wisteria need?

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Q: Is wisteria hard to grow?

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Wisteria is the showstopper of the spring garden. Trained over a wall, arch or pergola, its long cascades of scented flowers turn a structure into a spectacle for a few unforgettable weeks.

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Pink Japanese Wisteria ('Hon-beni')

Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'

£30.99

1

Chinese Wisteria 'Prolific' (Blue Wisteria)

Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'

£30.99

1

White Japanese Wisteria

Wisteria floribunda 'Alba'

£31.99

1

Double Black Dragon Japanese Wisteria ('Yae-kokuryu')

Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon'

£31.99

1

Growing wisteria

Nothing else does quite what wisteria does. In late spring a mature plant drips with long, fragrant trails of blue, purple or white flowers, smothering a pergola, arch or house wall in one of the great sights of the gardening year. It is a long-term relationship: wisteria is vigorous and long-lived, and rewards a little patience and know-how with decades of display.

The two keys are a sunny position and correct pruning. Wisteria flowers best in full sun on a sturdy support that can carry its considerable weight in maturity. Prune twice a year, cutting the whippy summer growth back in July or August and again in winter, to build up the flowering spurs and keep it in bounds. Given that, it is tough, hardy and remarkably forgiving.

All grown for UK gardens and sent out well rooted, ready to train in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my wisteria to flower?

Give it full sun and prune it twice a year: cut the long summer shoots back to five or six leaves in July or August, then shorten those again to two or three buds in winter. This builds the flowering spurs. Patience helps too, as young plants take a few years to settle into flowering.

When does wisteria flower?

The main display is in late spring, usually May, when the long flower trails open before or with the leaves. Some varieties give a lighter second flush in summer.

What support does wisteria need?

A strong, permanent one. Wisteria is vigorous and heavy in maturity, so train it against sturdy wires on a wall, or over a solid pergola or arch built to take the weight. Flimsy trellis will not last.

Is wisteria hard to grow?

It is easier than its reputation suggests, as long as you give it sun and prune it twice a year. It is fully hardy and long-lived. The main mistake is not pruning, which gives lots of leaf and few flowers.