Wisteria

The genus Wisteria has a dozen climbing deciduous shrub species. The leaves are non-pinnate, with leaves having an oblong-oval or lanceolate shape, light green color. Irregular flowers with a pleasant aroma are usually painted in a lilac-blue scale with numerous shade transitions. The most intense spring flowering, immediately after the appearance of leaves. However, these plants often have less abundant summer blooms. The most popular species is Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), which originated from China. This is a very lush beautiful liana - it can climb to a height of 15 m. Compound leaves are composed of 7-13 oval-lanceolate leaflets. In May-June, purple-blue flowers bloom profusely, collected in dense racemose inflorescences up to 30 cm long. There are varieties and forms with flowers of different colors, for example, W. s. var. albiflora with white flowers. Wisteria luxuriantly blooming (W. floribunda) originated from Japan. It is not as lush as Chinese wisteria. The leaves are formed by 13-19 light green oblong-oval or lanceolate leaflets. In May-June, lilac-blue flowers bloom, collected in thin brushes up to 30 cm long. Known varieties: 'White' - with white flowers, 'Pink' - with pink flowers, 'Purple terry' - with double flowers of intense blue-purple color. Very decorative is the beautiful wisteria (W. x formosa) - a hybrid of the lush-flowering wisteria (W. floribunda) and Chinese (W. sinensis). The leaf of this plant is formed by 9-15 slightly pubescent leaflets. In June, flowers of light purple-pink color bloom, collected in brushes up to 25 cm long. The dark green leaves of wisteria venusta (W. venusta) consist of 9-13 slightly pubescent leaflets. In early summer, dense brushes up to 15 cm long appear with white and yellow flowers at the base of the upper petal. Especially decorative are ' Purple 'with purple and' White terry ' with double flowers.

The genus Wisteria has a dozen climbing deciduous shrub species. The leaves are non-pinnate, with leaves having an oblong-oval or lanceolate shape, light green color. Irregular flowers with a pleasant aroma are usually painted in a lilac-blue scale with numerous shade transitions. The most intense spring flowering, immediately after the appearance of leaves. However, these plants often have less abundant summer blooms.

The most popular species is Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), which originated from China. This is a very lush beautiful liana - it can climb to a height of 15 m. Compound leaves are composed of 7-13 oval-lanceolate leaflets. In May-June, purple-blue flowers bloom profusely, collected in dense racemose inflorescences up to 30 cm long. There are varieties and forms with flowers of different colors, for example, W. s. var. albiflora with white flowers.

Wisteria luxuriantly blooming (W. floribunda) originated from Japan. It is not as lush as Chinese wisteria. The leaves are formed by 13-19 light green oblong-oval or lanceolate leaflets. In May-June, lilac-blue flowers bloom, collected in thin brushes up to 30 cm long. Known varieties: 'White' - with white flowers, 'Pink' - with pink flowers, 'Purple terry' - with double flowers of intense blue-purple color.

Very decorative is the beautiful wisteria (W. x formosa) - a hybrid of the lush-flowering wisteria (W. floribunda) and Chinese (W. sinensis). The leaf of this plant is formed by 9-15 slightly pubescent leaflets. In June, flowers of light purple-pink color bloom, collected in brushes up to 25 cm long.

The dark green leaves of wisteria venusta (W. venusta) consist of 9-13 slightly pubescent leaflets. In early summer, dense brushes up to 15 cm long appear with white and yellow flowers at the base of the upper petal. Especially decorative are ' Purple 'with purple and' White terry ' with double flowers.

Cultivation

In the south, wisteria is widely used to decorate arches, walls, pergolas, hedges and trees; it is often planted on balconies and terraces. In the middle zone, you can grow it in tubs, removing it indoors for the winter. These plants grow very violently, so they should not be cultivated in a confined space or where they can destroy paving or masonry. Wisteria is planted in autumn or late spring. Any soil is suitable for them, as long as it is not overextended; preferably - well-drained. Young plants require supports.

Location

Wisteria prefer to grow in the open sun, however, and in partial shade, the plants are easily adapted.

Temperature

Wisteria trees are usually not capricious about temperature conditions. They can withstand both frost and very high summer temperatures, although in general the plants are thermophilic. Among them, Chinese wisteria is the most frost-resistant.

Watering

It is only necessary for young plants immediately after planting. Wisteria even tolerates drought very well.

Care

Pruning is an important operation for wisteria: if it is carried out carelessly, then next spring there will be no flowers. In July, the shoots of the current year are cut to the 5th-6th leaf. With the onset of winter, the same branches are shortened again, leaving 2-3 buds on them, just from them in the future shoots with flowers will develop.

Reproduction

Propagate layers in the summer (separate them for the next year), cuttings and seeds. Garden forms are propagated mainly by grafting, using Chinese wisteria as a rootstock. As a scion, use the shoots of the previous year; the operation is carried out in March. The temperature is maintained at least 16-18 °C. Cuttings are prepared in August from the shoots of the current year. The length of cuttings is 8-10 cm, they are taken "with the heel" and placed in a peat-sand mixture at a temperature not lower than 15 °C. Plants-obtained both by grafting and cuttings-are transplanted into 15-cm pots that can be dug into the ground, where they are kept until planted in a permanent place in the garden or on the plot. Wisteria is propagated by layering, using long whips.

Propagate layers in the summer (separate them for the next year), cuttings and seeds.

Garden forms are propagated mainly by grafting, using Chinese wisteria as a rootstock. As a scion, use the shoots of the previous year; the operation is carried out in March. The temperature is maintained at least 16-18 °C. Cuttings are prepared in August from the shoots of the current year. The length of cuttings is 8-10 cm, they are taken "with the heel" and placed in a peat-sand mixture at a temperature not lower than 15 °C. Plants-obtained both by grafting and cuttings-are transplanted into 15-cm pots that can be dug into the ground, where they are kept until planted in a permanent place in the garden or on the plot.

Wisteria is propagated by layering, using long whips.

Diseases

Plants can be affected by aphids, which suck the juices from the leaves, and then they appear black. If possible (if the plant is not too large), they are treated with insecticides against aphids. Sometimes the leaves are damaged by mites, which causes them to form specks that grow and merge into spots. In this case, treatment with acaricidal drugs is required. On calcareous (alkaline) soils, wisteria suffer from chlorosis, resulting in significant yellowing of the leaves. Control measures primarily include the introduction of iron salts by root or foliar fertilization.

Acquisition

Wisteria is quite easy to find in gardening centers and nurseries. Early spring is the best time to buy and plant on the plot. During this period, they are sold everywhere.