Introduction:
Today, I’m focusing on a beautiful but overgrown plant Wisteria; it’s growing up and through the bench here. In my climate, summer pruning is crucial for wisteria. You’ll often need to prune it both in the summer and winter to keep it in check.
Wisteria is known for its stunning spring blossoms—long drapes of pea-like flowers that have a lovely fragrance. There are different varieties, such as Wisteria sinensis with its lavender-blue color and Wisteria floribunda, which can be white, pink, or lavender-blue.
Growing of Wisteria:
This plant is beautiful and often associated with traditional and romantic garden styles. However, it's important to understand what you’re getting into when you plant it. Wisteria can live for 50 years, so you need to consider not just your own needs but also those of future homeowners. I’ve seen wisteria become invasive; a neighbor once mowed it weekly for years, but the plant continued to thrive.
- Wisteria is very hearty, vigorous, and resilient. It’s a nitrogen fixer, so it can thrive in nitrogen-poor soils. However, too much nitrogen can harm it. Ensure your soil has ample magnesium and phosphorus but avoid adding extra nitrogen.
- Being an opportunistic pioneer species, wisteria is aggressive and can become invasive if not managed properly. It’s particularly problematic in the southern United States, where it’s considered invasive.
- A single wisteria plant can grow incredibly long tendrils—up to 70 feet or more. If you train it in two directions, it can easily reach 140 feet. It will quickly overtake your house and may even get into your attic, as it did with ours when we lived in Ohio. It’s a powerful and heavy plant that requires sturdy support.
- It’s best to grow wisteria on an arbor away from your house and other plants, so it doesn’t smother them. Wisteria thrives in full sun, and it’s ideal to place it somewhere in your yard where you can fully appreciate its beauty. Avoid planting it near your home or on its structure to prevent damage.
Pruning and Shape:
At my friend's house, wisteria is growing on a T-post. It needs regular pruning, both in winter and summer. In the summer, it’s important to trim the vigorous growth to keep it manageable. This plant can grow more than a foot a day in sunny weather, so frequent pruning is necessary.
Wisteria grows on new wood, so it’s similar to pruning grapes. You start with a basic structure and cut back to this structure in the winter, removing a significant portion of the plant. Summer pruning focuses on controlling the vegetative growth and maintaining the plant’s shape.
After a thorough pruning, the plant will be more contained and less likely to cause damage. Regular maintenance is key to managing wisteria. It requires ongoing attention to control its growth and ensure it remains a beautiful feature in your garden.
Look of Wisteria:
Let’s take a closer look at the wisteria. You can see the long tendrils grabbing onto everything, including the house siding and railing. The plant has climbed over the bench and is attempting to overtake other areas. This is where pruning comes in to prevent damage.
Can wisteria is Toxic?
Wisteria is toxic, so handle it with care. All parts of the plant seeds, blossoms, foliage, and root are toxic. It’s not edible, even though it belongs to the pea family.
