WISTERIA. East Asia, eastern U.S. Though not every gardener has the space to grow them (or alternatively, the time for frequent pruning to keep them in bounds), the wisterias are universally admired. All of the following are large deciduous vines. They develop twisted, picturesque trunks with age and may be sculptured through pruning into small trees. They have large, widely spaced leaves divided feather-like into several to many pointed-oval leaflets. They bloom in spring, either on bare branches or just as the first leaves unfold, displaying masses of fragrant, pea shaped blossoms in long, usually drooping clusters. Sun, reasonably well drained soil, moderate watering during active growth. They tolerate a surprising degree of summer drought. Hardy to 0^oF or below.

‘Cooke’s Special Purple’. This cultivar has been listed under both W. sinensis and simply the cultivar name; its actual ancestry is uncertain. The plants are stocky and vigorous, with the broad leaflets of W. sinensis, described below. It flowers early, along with W. ‘Caroline’, and has extraordinary masses of 10" clusters. The flowers are strongly bicolored, having dark purple wings (the lower petals) and a lighter banner. The fragrance is also outstanding. Selected at L. E. Cooke Nurseries.

floribunda. Japanese wisteria. This species is distinguished by the many (15 or more) narrow leaflets making up each leaf and by long, relatively narrow flower clusters, the blossoms opening in succession. ‘Snow Showers’ (‘Shiro Noda’) has clusters up to 18" long, closely packed with pure white, lightly fragrant blossoms. ‘Issai’ combines bright and pale lavender. ‘Longissima’ (‘Macrobotrys’) has blossoms marked with violet wings and lighter banners, marked with white and yellow, in clusters 2’ or more long. ‘Violacea Plena’ (‘Black Dragon’) is highly variable in several respects. The flower clusters are up to 15" long but often rather short. Flower color, at its best, is a rich deep violet; however it is heavily affected by weather. In all cases, however, the flowers are fully double. ‘Hon-beni’ is possibly the most beautiful wisteria I have been privileged to see. It bears 12-18" tresses of truly pink flowers, paler on the banner and darker on the wings. Curiously, it takes on a more lavender cast in brighter, warmer weather (try to arrange for clouds while it is in bloom). ‘Kuchi Beni’ is similar, with slightly longer clusters–on the average–but paler flower color. ‘Kyushaku’ is the probable name for a Japanese selection with bicolored, mostly pale lavender flowers in incredibly long tresses, alleged to reach nearly four feet (they have been about half that in containers).

frutescens. American wisteria. An eastern U.S. native, similar to W. sinensis in general appearance. It is similarly vigorous and leafy. The leaves have up to 15 rather broad leaflets. The flower clusters are usually under 4" long but crowded with many rather large, lightly fragrant flowers. These are lavender to violet in color in the typical form. ‘Nivea’ has snow-white flowers with yellow at the base of the standards. These are interesting plants to try along with more familiar wisterias.

‘Kofuji’. A miniature wisteria, probably belonging to W. sinensis. It makes thickets of 8-12" stems, with tiny leaves. It is one of the best for bonsai. Occasionally a stronger, flowering branch is produced, bearing small clusters of pretty lavender flowers.

‘Lavender Lace’. This is a possible hybrid between W. floribunda and W. sinensis, bearing abundant 18" clusters of brightly bicolored flowers, pale lavender on the standard (upper petal), nearly violet on the wings (lower petals). They are powerfully and sweetly fragrant.

macrostachya ‘Clara Mack’. W. macrostachya is a native of the eastern U.S., of about the same scale as W. floribunda. It has similarly large, bright green leaves with smooth, broad leaflets. Its chief distinction is its densely packed, foot-long clusters, typically of large light pink flowers. ‘Clara Mack’ was selected for its abundant pure white flowers.

sinensis. Chinese wisteria. The leaves in this species have fewer (up to 13) and broader leaflets than W. floribunda, and the flower clusters are shorter and broader, the blossoms opening nearly at once. ‘Caroline’, possibly a hybrid with W. floribunda, has violet flowers marked with yellow and white. ‘Blue Sapphire’ has particularly long clusters of lavender flowers with lighter markings. Those of ‘Amethyst’ (a probable hybrid, rather than W. sinensis itself) are quite similar in form but feature strong rosy tints. This is also one of the most powerfully and sweetly fragrant of all wisterias. All are outstandingly heavy bloomers.

venusta ‘Alba’. Silky wisteria. Japan. This species is marked by downy stems and foliage, broad leaflets and exceptionally large (over 1") white flowers carried in relatively short, fat clusters. In cooler weather the flower buds are pink.