Hanging tough on new-build or country house
“Their pendant racemes, like clusters of grape, hanging purple and delicate and sweet with perfume.”
Those are the words of R J Ellory, a wonderfully-descriptive and renowned author, in the equally-wonderful crime thriller A Quiet Vendetta.
The “pendant racemes” belonged to wisteria, a shrub instantly recognisable and a “love-it-anywhere” plant, as perfect around a country house as it is clambering over a new-build.
The hanging bunches of pea-like flowers bring a feeling of affluence and style wherever you find them
When it comes to climbers, wisteria is an especially good choice because it’s tough and easy to look after.
It also provides attractive features beyond simply the blooms. The foliage of some wisteria, for example, turns a lovely yellow in autumn.
Wisteria x floribunda (Japanese wisteria) is one of the best choices for flowers now. It’s a vigorous, twining climber that produces racemes of violet blue flowers in spring and early summer.
Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) is often the one you see growing around older houses and gardens. Varieties include “Sierra Madre”, which produces very fragrant, lavender-violet flowers. “Alba”, not surprisingly, bears white flowers, and “Prolific” should yield an abundance of lilac-blue or pale lilac-blue flowers.
Look out also for hybrids. Wisteria x formosa is a great example (crossed Japanese and Chinese wisteria). Flowers of this hybrid are fragrant. And “Black Dragon”, which produces purple-violet flowers, is a real beauty.
Wisteria is generally hardy and quite fast-growing. It’s happiest in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate poorer soils. Full sun or partial shade is equally suitable.
But be warned, to keep a wisteria flowering well requires regular pruning.