Japanese wisteria (syn. Wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotrys’)
May is an extraordinary month. Each time I set foot in the garden I notice something new that has just come out, so it’s hard to pick out a favourite at this time of the year; they are all special, but my choice today is hard to beat for drama and impact.
It you don’t have a suitable house wall, or if you just fancy a small specimen tree, this method is a very successful way of growing a wisteria. We planted ours 25 years ago and I take no credit for how it looks today; my husband Rob has been dedicated in building (very robust) supports and in carrying out pruning twice yearly. Once you ‘get’ the pruning, it’s fairly straightforward, and rather easier, I am told, than when the subject is growing against a wall. The idea of a standard wisteria is not new but less often seen than one might imagine.
This sumptuous wisteria, widely acknowledged to be one of the best, produces exceptionally long racemes which are lightly scented and usually appear in mid to late spring or early summer, at which time the foliage starts to emerge. Pale mauve with a splash of creamy yellow, and deep violet, the pea-like flowers are tricoloured and very beautiful: they are followed by interesting seed pods in the autumn.
You may have to wait three of four years after planting before it flowers, but once established it’s a breathtaking sight. Ours grows in a square, brick edged bed filled with gravel, and several years ago I planted a few chionodoxa bulbs which have now self seeded and fill the bed with a blue carpet in early spring.
NB Louise has published a beautifully produced book of her plant profiles – A Plant for Each Week of the Year. It costs £9.99 and is for sale in our online shop here.
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