Growing the Lavender Falls Wisteria

Size and Appearance

The Lavender Falls Wisteria is a deciduous twining plant that climbs on any structure, or up a tree, to a height of 10 to 20 feet. Left untrimmed it will cover a large area, perhaps up to 30 feet wide. With regular pruning, it can be kept much smaller, but it does need a significant space for good results. The woody stems twist around anything they encounter, and the lower parts of the plants will become thick, woody and tree-like. Young stems are light brown, and older stems are an attractive gray, with the bark becoming rugged, with lots of character. The leaves are large, 10 to 12 inches long, but they are divided into 11 leaflets, with one at the end and 5 pairs down the central stem. Each leaflet is smooth and oval, about 3½ inches long, and a bright, light green. In fall the leaves turn golden yellow.

In spring, before the new leaves develop, the first flowers appear. Each bud develops into a chain of flowers, about 12 inches long, consisting of about 40 blooms. These have the fragrance of hyacinths, and they are a gorgeous lavender-blue color. They resemble the flowers of pea plants, with the two parts in two different shades of blue. The effect of a plant in bloom is wonderful, and the lack of leaves intensifies that effect. Flowering lasts 2 to 3 weeks, and it is a highlight of that precious time when winter becomes spring. As the flowers are fading the new leafy stems appear and the plant grows vigorously. In the Lavender Falls Wisteria more blooms will form over the summer, often 2 or 3 times, with the flower clusters now nestling among the green leaves.

Using the Lavender Falls Wisteria in Your Garden

This plant needs support to climb on. This can be anything from a fence to a pergola, an old tree, or wires stretched across a wall. You can cover a whole wall of your house or hide an ugly fence. If you have a pergola or gazebo, one plant will cover a large part, or all of it, so always allow enough room for proper development of your plant.

Alternatively, it is possible with regular pruning to grow the Lavender Falls Wisteria as a free-standing plant. Begin with a simple framework of poles to support it, and train it into a spreading, umbrella shape. By regularly cutting back the long stems to that framework, you can control the size. In a few years the major stems will thicken enough to make the plant a self-supporting tree. Regular pruning will always be needed to control the form.

Hardiness

The Lavender Falls Wisteria is hardy and will bloom from zone 5 all the way into zone 9. In zone 4 it may survive with some winter damage and grow vigorously as a green plant each year. Spring blooming will be rare, but it is likely that summer blooms will be produced, unlike other varieties, where no blooming at all is normal in zone 4.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

For the best results grow this plant in full sun. It will grow in partial shade, but blooming will be reduced considerably. It grows easily in all well-drained soils, and it is not particular about soil conditions, growing well even in poorer soils. In fact, poorer soils will often stimulate more blooming, so don’t over-feed your young plant.

Maintenance and Pruning

This plant is generally free of pests or diseases, and rabbits and deer normally ignore it. It is normal for wisteria to take several years to become established before they begin to bloom, but some plants can and do bloom in their early years. Don’t fertilize after the first few years, unless growth is very slow and weak. Regular pruning will encourage earlier blooming and control the size and spread of the plant. The goal of pruning is to develop a persistent framework of branches, so train long stems to create that, and then, in early summer, cut back new shoots hard, leaving just 5 or 6 leaves. This will encourage the development of clusters of shorter stems that grow flower buds. Then in late winter, cut back the stems again to the flower buds, which can be recognized because they are large.

History and Origin of the Lavender Falls Wisteria

Patience is always a virtue in developing new plants, and Patrick Tam, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was incredibly patient, waiting 40 years to be sure that the unique seedling he had found was something special. In 1950, at his Southwood Garden Center he sowed some seeds of the Chinese wisteria, Wisteria floribunda. Among the seedlings was one that kept reblooming in summer. He kept it until he was totally sure it was a reliable rebloomer, and then patented it with his wife’s name, as ‘Betty Tam’, in 2009. It was released for all gardeners to grow in 2010 by Greenleaf Nursery Company, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, as part of their Garden Debut® plant collection, with the name Lavender Falls. The original plant is still blooming two or three times a year at the back of the Southwood Garden Center.

Buying the Lavender Falls Wisteria at The Tree Center

We love making the best plants available to our clients, so we are thrilled to have young plants of this wonderful wisteria. Order yours now, and enjoy those gorgeous blooms not once, but several times a year.

A vigorous, deciduous climbing plant, the Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria sends out long twining stems covered in leaves that are up to 12 inches long. They don’t look large, though, because they are divided into 9 to 15 small leaflets, each between 1 and 2 inches long, arranged in pairs along a central leaf-stem, with one leaflet at the end. These graceful leaves create a picture of glossy-green lushness all summer and turn yellow in fall. The stems become woody and thicken, until the base of the plant forms a stout trunk, and the strong branches are covered with leathery, gray-brown bark. Although climbing, a mature plant is substantial and heavy, almost tree-like, so make sure the support you grow it on is sturdy and strong. It is also possible in time, with training, to develop this plant into a striking free-standing bush.

In spring, before, and as the first leaves appear, the Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria will be in full bloom. The wild form of this plant has small flower clusters, but this variety has large ones, between 8 and 12 inches long, hanging in abundance from the bare stems. Each raceme has many individual flowers on it, and each one is shaped like the flowers of peas, with a large, flat, upper lip and a smaller, folded, lower lip. They are colored a delicious lilac-blue, with the lower lip a darker shade than the upper one. A sweet perfume flows from them, and a plant in bloom is a glorious sight. When the flowers fade, they are replaced by a cluster of pods, 2 to 4 inches long. These are light green in summer, becoming glossy brown by winter, adding a touch of interest at that time. The seeds inside are not edible. Sometimes additional flowers are formed in summer, bringing further interest.

The Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria is the perfect plant for covering unsightly fences or large dead trees. It will grow to 20 or even 30 feet tall, but it is not as vigorous as the Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, which can be a troublesome bully in all but the largest gardens. It is an ideal choice for growing on a large pergola, or on a trellis against a wall. With some training it can be made to completely cover a wall of a house, and it makes a glorious sight. Plant it to grow into an old tree in an open woodland garden It can also be grown in a large planter, and even made into a bonsai plant of great beauty.

Full sun is the ideal spot for the Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria to grow in, although it will grow in partial shade, but with fewer blooms. Unlike the Chinese wisteria, the flower buds of this plant are hardy in zone 4, where it will bloom profusely. It grows well in any moist soil, even wet ones, and in acid soils and clay soils too. It is also resistant to road salt. Once established it has some drought resistance, but dry, sandy locations are less suitable for this plant. It is normally not bothered by pests or diseases, and it will even grow into a black walnut, a tree well-known for making the soil around it toxic to many plants. Fertilizer is normally not necessary and feeding this plant may make it flower less.

Although it can be left to grow naturally on a large support, regular pruning is the secret to success with the Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria. After flowering and the first flush of new growth, trim back all unwanted stems to 6 inches long, cutting just above a leaf. Train some stems to make longer branches, as needed, to cover the pergola or support you are using. Then in winter prune again, cutting all the side stems from the main branches back to just 2 or 3 buds. The larger buds are the ones that will produce flowers, and regular pruning will give you the most blooms, keeping your plant neat and attractive at the same time. It is also possible to train young plants into an upright bush, using stakes. Once the stems thicken it will be more-or-less self-supporting. Then with regular pruning it can be maintained as an exotic, oriental-looking shrub of considerable beauty. The same can be done with a plant in a large planter or pot.

The Aunt Dee Kentucky Wisteria is a selected, cold-hardy form of the American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens. That plant grows throughout the east, from Michigan and New York, south into Florida and Texas. A unique form, called the Kentucky wisteria, is found in that state, and in other parts of the southeast. It is sometimes called Wisteria frutescens var. macrostachya, and sometimes simply Wisteria macrostachya. It is different from the American wisteria because the blooms are scented, and for other minor features. The variety called ‘Aunt Dee’ is remarkable for the much larger flower clusters, and its ability to bloom in zone 4, which makes it a great gift to northern gardeners. If you love wisteria in bloom, but fear being taken over, then this is the variety to choose. Rarer forms like this one are hard to come by, and our limited stock won’t last long. Order now, you won’t regret it.

Climbing plants have a place in every garden, for covering arbors, unsightly fences or walls, or for growing on a trellis to give height without width in a small garden. Among the different kinds of climbing plants, Wisteria vines stand out for the beauty of their flower clusters and their dramatic blue to purple coloring. However, many people have had bad experiences with Wisteria, because the most commonly available form is the Chinese or Japanese Wisteria – a beautiful plant, but one that can grow 100 feet and completely engulf a large tree, spreading around the garden like a beautiful monster. So when you say ‘Wisteria’ to some gardeners, they can turn very pale!

Luckily there is a solution for those who love the look and color of Wisteria, but don’t have the huge amount of space needed to grow the classic Chinese Wisteria. In some parts of the country, the Chinese Wisteria has even escaped into natural areas and become a major pest. However, there is a solution that allows us to grow this beautiful plant, without having to live with a monster, or threaten the surrounding countryside. Believe it or not, America has its own Wisteria species, which for years was overlooked by gardeners keen to grow something exotic.

All across the eastern USA, from Virginia to Illinois, and south to Florida and Texas, grows a well-behaved all-American Wisteria called Wisteria frutescens. (The ‘bad’ ones are Wisteria sinensis and W. floribunda). This plant mostly grows around streams and ponds in the wild, but in the garden it will grow well in most kinds of soil. It still makes a good-sized plant, but nothing like the alien monsters. It has more delicate stems that are easily pruned or trimmed, and unlike the Chinese or Japanese wisterias, which can take years to bloom, our American Wisteria will bloom within a couple of years of planting. Gardeners have selected an especially attractive form of the American wisteria, and called it ‘Amethyst Falls’.

Growing Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vines

The Amethyst Falls Wisteria has clusters of beautiful flowers up to six-inches long that begin looking like a blue pine cone, before expanding to their full length. The flowers are like those of a pea, because this plant is in fact a relative of that vegetable, but they are larger, and a ravishing shade of lavender blue, with a delicious light scent. As an added bonus, these flowers are not only produced in spring, just before the leaves emerge, but also in summer, set against the attractive foliage. The leaves are large, up to 12 inches long, but they are divided into 15 smaller leaflets, like a fern, giving the plant a light, airy beauty. The slender stems will twine around any support, so you do not need to tie this vine in, it will cover a trellis or arbor naturally.

Planting and Initial Care

When planting your Amethyst Falls Wisteria, make sure to place it in a sunny location. It will also grow in partial shade, but the amount of flowering will be reduced, so we recommend a location in full sun. It grows well in any garden soil that is not constantly wet, but does best in a moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic material. Add compost or manure when planting, and mulch each spring with more organic material. Unlike the regular Wisteria, which can take 7–10 years to flower, your Amethyst Falls Wisteria will be flowering with 2 or 3 years from planting. Give young plants plenty of water, but once established this plant will tolerate an average dry summer without extra care.

Uses on Your Property

Although relatively ‘tame’, you should still give your Amethyst Falls Wisteria plenty of room, on a strong trellis or arbor. It will also grow up into a tree, so if you have a dead tree looking unsightly on your property, this is a great way to turn it into a thing of beauty.

Pruning

Pruning is beneficial to control the size but even more because it will help your plant produce lots of flowers. Prune twice a year – first in fall or winter, when the plant is dormant, by cutting stems back to the large buds you will see at their base. These are the flower buds. Then prune again in summer, by trimming back any long stems you don’t need to extend your vine over its support. Cut them back to about 6 inches in length. Always cut just above a leaf or bud.

Buying Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vines at The Tree Center

Everyone who sees Wisteria falls in love with it, but you need to be careful in your selection if you want to avoid letting a monster loose, so the Amethyst Falls Wisteria is the perfect choice. However, these plants are always rare and hard to obtain, so our supplies will not last. Order now and finally enjoy a Wisteria vine you can live with and love forever. All of our Amethyst Falls Wisteria vines are produced from cuttings of plants guaranteed to be of the correct kind, so avoid cheaper plants labeled simply ‘Wisteria’, as these will probably be the common Chinese or Japanese kinds that can grow to be 100 feet long and completely take over your garden. We invite you to browse our entire collection of Wisteria, including other popular species like the Blue Moon Wisteria and the Purple Wisteria.

The Blue Moon Wisteria is a true American Queen, growing naturally in the southern states and growing naturally as far north as Illinois. This native plant is related to the more common Chinese wisteria, but is much superior if you live in a cooler area. Because Wisteria takes several years to bloom from a young plant, it is important to start with a mature plant. An older plant like this will normally bloom the first year after planting, giving you an early taste of how beautiful it is going to be.

Blue Moon Wisteria Blooms

While the Chinese wisteria just blooms in spring, the Blue Moon Wisteria often blooms three times a year – a major blooming in spring before the leaves emerge, followed by additional blooms in summer and often again in early fall. The blossoms are magnificent – lavender blue in color, and clustered on a hanging raceme that is 12 inches long. There can be as many as 90 individual blooms in each raceme and a plant can be covered in hundreds of these flower clusters, creating a stunning and dramatic effect in the garden. The foliage is dark green and the leaves are up to 12 inches long, divided into smaller leaflets, with between 9 and 15 leaflets per leaf.

Growing Blue Moon Wisteria Vines

The Blue Moon Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens var. macrostachys) is a native American vine that will grow to about 25 feet tall, or cover a similar area on a pergola. It is self-twining, meaning it doesn’t need complex tying and it will also climb into a large tree, which is its natural pattern of growth. If you have a large dead tree to deal with, this could be an interesting way of covering it and making it into a thing of beauty.

It will also grow well on a pergola or arbor, but it should be well-built and sturdy, as a fully grown plant is heavy and needs strong support. Plant your Blue Moon Wisteria beside one of the upright supports of your arbor and train it upwards so that it will spread across, providing a beautiful floral display as well as welcome shade in hot weather.

This special form of Wisteria can only be grown by taking pieces from top-quality plants of the correct type and it take several years to produce these tall, mature, staked plants. So avoid other types of Wisteria, especially cheaper plants grown from seed, as they will take years to bloom and will not be as hardy or as beautiful as the true Blue Moon Wisteria.

Blue Moon Wisteria Hardiness

Although the Blue Moon Wisteria grows naturally in the south, it is hardy throughout the country, even into zone 3, with winter temperatures of minus 40. If you have tried to grow a regular Chinese wisteria in a cold area and never had blooms, then the Blue Moon Wisteria is for you. It will bloom well even in the coldest areas. It will grow in most well-drained garden soils but does need water during hot, dry spells. It should be planted in full sun for maximum bloom, and it has no significant pests or diseases.

Pruning Blue Moon Wisteria

To control the growth and encourage flowering, you should prune twice a year. The first pruning takes place in fall, when you should cut back the branches to the large buds, which are the ones that will produce flowers. Remove any long, thin, straggling shoots. Then again in summer, cut back new long shoots not needed to increase the size of the plant, leaving about 6 inches of new stem. Always cut just above a leaf or bud. This particular hardy variety is not often available, so to enjoy the beauty of the Queen of Vines, no matter where you live, order now to avoid disappointment.

This vigorous, easy to grow climbing plant can be used to cover walls and fences, hide ugly old trees or bring amazing beauty to trellises, arbors or pergolas. Not only that but it will fill the air with its rich, beautiful perfume for weeks. Even if you don’t have a fence or arbor to grow this plant, it can, with care, be trained into a small tree with an attractive, grey, twisted trunk and horizontal or arching branches which will be hung with those beautiful fragrant purple flowers every spring.

The Purple Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) grows wild in many parts of China. In the garden it has also been crossed with the Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Modern plants mix the best features of both these plants to bring gorgeous hanging clusters of blossoms to every garden. Purple Wisteria is a rapid grower and will grow 10 feet in a season, so it will very quickly cover the largest fence or wall. With pruning it can easily be controlled to cover smaller areas too. This plant is drought tolerant when established and has few if any pests or diseases. It is also rarely if ever eaten by deer, so it makes a great screen on a fence separating you from a forest or wild area.

Growing Purple Wisteria

Purple Wisteria is a climbing plant but it can also be trained into a beautiful and different small tree. It can grow 30 feet as a climber if left un-pruned, or with regular pruning grown on a medium-sized arbor or pergola. In time the stem will thicken and become a small trunk, with strong branches. The young stems cling by spiraling around a fence, pole or other plants, so that the flower-clusters hang down. The light-green leaves are large with many segments. The blue-purple flowers are like those of a pea, but gathered into large clusters a foot or more in length. The main flowering takes place in spring before the leaves appear, but in warmer areas some flowers are also produced throughout the summer. The leaves turn a beautiful yellow color in fall, before dropping to reveal the gray, gnarled stems and branches.

Hardiness

Purple Wisteria is hardy in zones 4 to 9, so it can easily be grown right across America except for the hottest and coldest areas. It will grow well even in colder regions but will rarely flower, so it still makes an excellent leafy screening plant for those regions.

Soil Conditions

The Purple Wisteria grows quickest in rich soils, but you should not give it too much water or fertilizer as then it will make a lot of leaves but fewer flowers. It will grow well and even produce more flowers, if the soil is not so rich and a little dry in summer. So this is a plant that will grow almost anywhere.

Planting and Initial Care

Purple Wisteria should be planted in a hole two or three times the width of the pot. Add some organic material like compost, rotted manure or peat-moss to the soil you took from the hole. Place your plant in the hole and replace most of the soil, firming it down around the roots. Fill the hole with water and when it drains away replace the rest of the soil. To cover large fences or wall, plant several Purple Wisterias 10 feet apart. It prefers soils that are not acidic, but it will grow in most types of soil. Keep your Purple Wisteria watered regularly during the first year – after that water is only needed during dry spells. Purple Wisteria does best in a sunny location, but it will take some shade and can be planted in shade as long as it can climb up into the sun.

Pruning and Maintenance

The most flowers are produced from plants that have been pruned. This should be done in summer, shortly after the flowers fade, by trimming back the new, long growths to about six leaves. Allow long new shoots to remain where you want the plant to increase its spread. Other long shoots can be cut back later in the summer if needed. In winter, when the plant is bare, cut back these same shoots to two or three buds from the main stems, unless you are trying to increase the spread of the plant. If you want to train your Purple Wisteria into a tree, use a stake or two to support it until the trunk becomes strong enough to stand alone, and then prune in the same way to develop the crown of the tree. It takes a little time, but your Wisteria Tree will be the envy of your neighborhood and everyone will be amazed at your ‘green thumb’.

Buying Purple Wisteria at The Tree Center

When Wisteria is grown from seed it can take 20 years to bloom. Our trees are grown the correct way, by pinning down stems of the best blooming plants to the ground (called layering) until roots form and the new plant can be detached. These plants will come into bloom within a couple of years of planting, and may even bloom in their first spring. Our trees are grown the correct way, so they will begin to bloom when young. Avoid cheaper, seedling trees that will only disappoint and take years to flower.

We sell only trees that are true to the original form and we have a wide range of sizes to give you the best plant for your purpose. However we are constantly renewing our stock so our customers get fresh, healthy plants, so supplies of this tree may be limited. You may also want to consider planting other similar species of this plant, like the Amethyst Fall Wisteria or the Blue Moon Wisteria.