Thank you to Weekend Gardener of Coquitlam, British Columbia for today's image (submitted via the BPotD Submissions Forum on the UBC boards) | original thread / image). Much appreciated!
Beautiful to see the plants, delightful to smell the flowers, but don't eat the seeds of Japanese wisteria or any of its relatives; they're poisonous. Wikipedia has an excellent article on Wisteria, including mention of the origin of the generic name; it is named after Dr. Caspar Wistar by the eminent botanist, Thomas Nuttall.
Botany / conservation resource link: Background information on the potential Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve in the southern interior of British Columbia via Botanical Electronic News. I might be writing more about this possible park in the near future.
Richard Shindell has a great song called Wisteria on his Somewhere Near Paterson album. The plant actually plays a significant part in the song.
lovely pic of wisteria
I am thinking of planting this wisteria and allowing it to spread along the deck railing.......my concern BEFORE doing so is : does it s roots or branches permanently stain or mark the railing.......note my railings are painted aluminum not wood
Please note that most wisteria are rampant tenacious plants that can invade other trees for support. In my area of the country (USA, VA) it has escaped into the woods and has become a problem. Please make sure your supports are sturdy - I have seen no evidence on staining - however if you even need to repaint you might have to chainsaw it unless you're vigilent on pruning.
good luck!
We have an arbour in our backyard - we planted 2 wisteria bushes beside the arbour - the bottom part of the plant is bare but very bushy and gree on top of the arbour but no flowers - these were planted about 7 years ago and we have never had flowers although the plants look very healthy. We have to trim the vine ends as they cling to everything. About 3 years ago, we cut the whole bushes back to almost nothing in hopes that would help it to flower - but no luck. Help!!
Thank you
Barbara
I think this flower is very "lovely"!!! it smells so so so good and makes great great great great paint!!!!! And the way it hangs down light lights lights up my fire!!!!!
I have a Wisteria floribunda rosea and this year it did not flower at all! What should I do to it to encourage blossoms?