Wisteria

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poodlelady Palo Alto, CA Aug 24, 2008

Can you tell me what kind of wisteria this is? [HYPERLINK: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.oregonlive.com/kympokorny/2007/07/large_wisteria.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.oregonlive.com/kympokorny/2007/07/vine_validation.html&h=695&w=453&sz=543&hl=en&start=8&sig2=eacgJrJQhYxbGR0F1aJkzA&usg=___cIDcrOa1Tu1g6O9tXwXuzDdcNo=&tbnid=u7wYqIDobWpPlM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=91&ei=z9ixSPrALqGqsAOBnpGJAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpurple%2Btrumpet%2Bvine%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den]

Can you give me any tips on growing it successfully?

Thank you,

Diana

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 24, 2008

It's either Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) or Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria). Since there are leaves in the pic, I'd guess Japanese since Chinese wisteria is supposed to bloom before the leaves come out. But if it's toward the end of its bloom period then it could be either one since the leaves on the Chinese one would be coming in by then. Either way, both of those are very large aggressive vines and are invasive in many areas (not sure if they are invasive here, but they'll definitely take over your garden even if they don't invade wild areas). A better choice might be the American wisteria, W. frutescens http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=wisteria&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=frutescens&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search It's still a large vine, but is less aggressive and not invasive.

If you decide to grow one of the Asian wisterias, the things to know are 1) they need full sun to bloom, 2) if you grow them from seed they will take many, many years to bloom (ones grown from cuttings will bloom sooner, if you buy a plant from a local nursery chances are it was started from cuttings), 3) they don't need a lot of water and fertilizer (and in fact you may have trouble getting them to bloom if you give them too much of either one), 4) they bloom on old wood, so if you prune them too late in the year you'll lose your blooms. The American wisteria still will do best with full sun, but they don't tend to be as picky on blooming. Also they bloom on new wood so you've got more flexibility on when to prune them. Whatever wisteria you grow, they will need a large area to spread over and a very sturdy support (not a flimsy little trellis).

Post #5462679
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DaleTheGardener Tampa, FL(Zone 10a) Aug 25, 2008

Diana,

The Sunset book says that Chinese Wisteria blooms after the leaves emerge and the clusters bloom all along the cluster stem at the same time.

I would say it is Chinese Wisteria in that photo.

Since you are on the Peninsula you will have no problems growing it.

Berkeley Hort. Nursery carries a large selection of wisteria, might be worth the trip across the bay.

Post #5464378
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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 25, 2008

I always get it mixed up which one blooms before leaves...and of course when I googled it to make sure I didn't mix it up the first website I found had it backwards! LOL

Post #5465053
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DaleTheGardener Tampa, FL(Zone 10a) Aug 25, 2008

ecrane,

I always have to look it up. I can't remember all the details of plants. I would never be able to win at Jeopardy. I leave the party when they bring out the Trivial Pursuit.

Alliums>

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