Spring Planting: Wonderful Wisteria

California landscape designer Karen Aitken chose Chinese Wisteria for a beautiful cascading effect over this bocce ball court in Morgan Hill.

The fact that it grows like a beanstalk can be a plus when looking for quick results in a landscape, Aitken says. But be sure to plant on a separate structure away from roofs and gutters and prune it every year to keep it in bounds. Anyone who has ever had a wisteria will emphasize this point with stories of vines that have taken over lesser porches and trees.

Wisteria's fragrant blooms and twisted, woody vines are all the decoration you need for an outdoor dining room.

Chinese Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
This is the classic, most common variety, valued for its violet blooms. Its stems grow to 25 feet or longer making it great for covering patios, arbors or fences. More on this variety

Photo courtesy of Monrovia

Amethyst Falls American Wisteria
Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls'
This wisteria pushes out fragrant purple blooms repeatedly through late spring and summer on stems that grow up to 10 feet long. All wisterias grow fast, but this one grows slower than Asian varieties, so it could be your pick for smaller areas. More on this variety

Photo courtesy of Monrovia

White Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Issai Perfect'
A wisteria for those who love big white blooms. Its flower clusters can be 15- to 18-inches long. More on this variety

Photo courtesy of Monrovia

Texas Purple Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Texas Purple'
Train on a featured arbor, trellis or fence to best show off its purple flowers. More on this variety

Photo courtesy of Monrovia

Blue Moon Kentucky Wisteria
Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon' is the hardiest of wisteria and shoots out 12-inch clusters of lavender flowers up to three times a season. More on this variety

Photo courtesy of Monrovia

A living roof creates a perfect transition from crisp lawn to lush border.

Fully leafed out in summer and bare in winter, deciduous wisteria allows in just the right light for every time of year.

A natural roof provides just enough sun, just enough shade.

Let new plants establish the basic framework you want, removing wayward streamers in summer before they get tangled up in the main body of the vine.

Even in its dormant season, wisteria's twisted, woody vines have a sculptural beauty.

What are you thinking of planting this spring?

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