wisteria

[SShide77]

Does anybody know anything about growing wisteria from the seed pods?

[solay]

I'm sorry I don't. I have a wisteria that hasn't bloomed for me ever since I got it. It's got more growth and leaves this year so maybe next spring. What color is yours?

[jbigio]

It takes seven years on average if everything is perfect for them to have a first bloom.

To long for me I bought a 4 year old plat last year

[solay]

I see. Well I've had mine about 3 years. I moved it out of a wine barrel and put it in the ground about 2 years ago. Maybe next year then. Thanks.

[SShide77]

o man, that long huh? I think ill try a plant too.

[Hummer344]

I have a large wisteria & have grown several from seedlings and given them away. They are slow to grow at first. BTW, Has anyone else expereinced the seed pods opening? Its funny as, when the seed pod opens, it sounds like a loud cap gun going off, then the sound of seeds landing several feet away. The pods open with force and the seeds are scattered. I had heard about it but never heard it until a number of years ago. Its the plants way of propagation. Another one of natures wonders.

[slippery_biscuit]

I put a half dozen plants in the ground a few years ago. They were maybe 3-4 ft tall when planted. Since they've grown like weed and flower, but I haven't seen a seed pod yet. Now that it's been mentioned, I'm wondering why....

[mayres]

I remembered this thread from reading it yesterday and ran outside with my point and shoot camera after work and took a few pics of my wisteria that I trained into a small tree. Mine is starting to have new little plants around the base that I've started giving away! What do you think?

Then a little closer.

And a little closer still.......

[solay]

OMG that is just too beautiful. I love the look of wisterias. I am so jealous. I'm trying to train mine along the wall of my back yard. I so like that color purple/lavender. Do those have double blooms? If you get another baby plant, could you let me know. I would like one. How old is your plant by the way? As I said before, I'm still waiting for mine to bloom.

[mayres]

Yep, double bloom! You'd like one eh? Hmmmm. This would not be a good time to try and get it to you - Hmmmm. I'm certainly willing to try and send it to you eventually, but we will probably have to wait till the dormant season (winter). You don't live anywhere near Santa Cruz do you? I'm going there in a few weeks - though I don't know if I should even try to dig it this time of year? Hmmm. Mine is probably 25 years old - it has been blooming forever and I purposefully keep it pruned into a small tree in the front corner of my house.

[palito]

beware that seed grown wisteria is very variable, you may get a stunning easy bloomer but you may also get a dud. It;s best to get them in bloom

[solay]

I live about 45 min. northeast of San Francisco. No need to dig it up now. In winter is fine. I can wait. I've learned to be patient from gardening. I would love one though, even if I have to wait years for it to bloom. I've never seen a double around here. Several neighbors have them but just single blooms. One guy has one too that's like a small 4' tree that blooms lick heck. Sooo envious.

Thanks in advance.

[exasperatus2002]

When I just bought my house, I just discovered one growing up the side of the shed. It was hiding in the boston ivy and white lilac. That and its taller then I am and I had to look up to see the flower dangling above me. The shed is incrusted in boston ivy which Im hacking down to keep it from ruining the shed. It'd be one thing if the ivy was on trellis but its attached to the structure itself. The wisteria is trellised.

[cupcake]

Thats gorgeous! I did grow one from seed years ago, but when it flowered it was so wishy washy I gave it away.

[SShide77]

wow, what a gorgeous wisteria!

[mehitabel]

Really fabulous, Mayres. Just beautiful. I'd like to know how you trained it to be a small tree, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Really fabulous, Mayres. Just beautiful. I'd like to know how you trained it to be a small tree, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

Ditto. Besides the large one on the side of my shed, I've got a few young ones in the back yard I can transplant & train.

[mayres]

They are easier than you might think to train into a tree form. My method was to drive a long pipe (stake) into the ground next to your plant to use as an anchor to keep the "trunk" pulled up to with ties - it should be as tall as you want your "tree trunk" to be. As the vine grows past the top it will naturally curl up and over to the side. Cut the curled over part anywhere that seems "about right" to you and wait to see where each succeeding new growth develops and train appropriately. Mine just naturally put out growths that resemble a tree "crotch" over time. Any growths that are entirely in places you don't want them - nip them in the bud and don't let them grow at all. These plants want to grow naturally from every conceivable place! You must summer prune these numerous times to keep them in a nice bushy tree form or they will literally "explode" in every direction! I could take a picture of the plant/tree now in bare form to show you its leafless form if anyone is interested?

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by mayres

I could take a picture of the plant/tree now in bare form to show you its leafless form if anyone is interested?

Definitely! I've never seen a wisteria like yours.

[koshki]

There are a number of people in my area who have "tree trained" wisteria. I make it a point to drive by their houses in the spring.

Mike, I'd love to see yours "au naturel"!

[mayres]

Okay, I went out this afternoon and took a pic of mine - the sun by then had moved to the other side of our property, but hopefully you can get the idea. I still have to clean it up prior to the growing season - prune off many stray vines. The trunk is now about 8 inches in diameter. It also has tons of Oregon moss growing all over it which probably isn't too good - maybe I'll spray something on it before growing season starts to try and put an end to that?

[koshki]

Mike, I really like how you've got that growing so nicely as part of the bed. The only "tree trained" wisteria I've seen around here are just stuck out in the middle of the yard, and look funny to me. I mean I love the blooms, but they just seem so isolated. So I've never really considered training one like that.

But yours is in such a nice setting. Is that a Japanese latern behind it? Perhaps I should consider planting one like this as well. Thanks!

[mayres]

This year's bloom! :-)