Walton's Plant Library

Other Names:  Summer Wisteria, Tropical Wisteria

Description:

An evergreen flowering vine that is not a true wisteria; vivid spikes of dark purple flowers emerging from the stems in spring and summer; a very vigorous vine to say the least, can grow quite woody, needs ample support, best if grown on a structure

Ornamental Features

Evergreen Wisteria features showy spikes of fragrant violet pea-like flowers with brick red overtones along the branches from mid spring to late summer, which emerge from distinctive indigo flower buds. It has green evergreen foliage. The narrow pinnately compound leaves remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Evergreen Wisteria is a multi-stemmed evergreen woody vine with a twining and trailing habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance woody vine that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Evergreen Wisteria is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Evergreen Wisteria will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. As a climbing vine, it tends to be leggy near the base and should be underplanted with low-growing facer plants. It should be planted near a fence, trellis or other landscape structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it, or allowed to trail off a retaining wall or slope. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This woody vine should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.