I had one for years, at 6500 ft, the trunk was 4" in diameter, climbing up a dead pinion tree. That fell over, making somewhat of a mess. Anywho, it never flowered - sort of like most of my lilacs, late freezes destroy the buds.

janni, I'm with you - some wisteria are to die for. Will be watching this thread to see if there is any hope.

Yes, I too love Wisteria! We had one when we lived in CA that was wonderful - bloomed twice every year. We bought one here and have it planted on the SE side of the house. Still has not bloomed in the 5 years we've had it there. But it has grown a lot and does look nice with it's foliage over the arbor, so guess will just have to settle for that in CO. If anyone is successful in getting one to bloom, please let us know what your trick is!!

Marj

Janni, I'm curious what variety you planted? I too would love a wisteria and saw a variety for sale online that said it was hardy down to zone 4. Did you just plant yours this May? Please keep us posted on its progress.

For anybody trying to grow wisteria around here--and getting it to bloom, here are a couple old threads with some info. The first one is the one I remembered and searched for--don't have any idea if any of the links still work!

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2139724/wisteria-macrostachya-can-i-grow-this?n=15

And the second one I ran into when I was looking for the 2009 one. It's Before My Time, but it has some very good info from "SallyB" from Denver (who I've never heard of before!) who has(?) one and found a way to get it to bloom!

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2122559/wisteria?n=11

Skybird

Thanks Skybird, I had forgotten how high maintenance these lovely vines are. Moving right along to the Clematis...

Steviewonder -- I have a Japanese wisteria.

After being brutally hit by three successive ice storms it's leaves were shorn and ragged. Six weeks later, little pointed bud-like spurs became new sets of leaves. I have pruned the tattered old leaves to make space for the new ones

The nursery from which I purchased it had only grafted wisteria. I have no idea if grafted wisteria is good or bad in our climate. When I bought it it in early May, it was in flower. Long, beautiful lavender flowers hung from the five-foot plant. Quite enticing!

It must be a sturdy plant to survive ice and hail the day after planting!

Here's a pic of the buds opening.

My wisteria branches didn't leaf out this year - perhaps the bad cold snap last year did them in? It is producing new vines from the roots, though. So am training those to go up the arbor and twine around the old vines. I don't know - Wisteria seems to be just too tender and definitely difficult to flower in Colorado (mine never has), unfortunately. I'm debating about digging it up and replacing with Clematis. Maybe that's hardier? I've definitely heard it blooms well here, too. I also believe I saw a lilac vine at O'Tooles recently - I've never heard of it in vine form!

Anyone else have their Wisteria not leaf out from the existing vines this year?

Marj