I tried it because authoritative sources claimed it was less aggressive than the m...Read Moreore commonly grown Asian species. I planted an 18" rooted cutting in May. Sixteen months later it hit the roofline of a two-story building, and it hasn't slowed down since. It has required just as much pruning as the Asian species. I'm always ripping out basal runners that race across the ground and root at every node. Also it self-sows vigorously despite my attempts at deadheading. It requires a big strong support because it eventually can grow just as tall and as heavy as the Asian species.
It began blooming in its second year. Flower clusters are almost as long as with Chinese wisteria, and the flowers are a bit smaller, though still showy. Bloom happens shortly after the plant leafs out, so the flowers don't make quite as much impact as with the precocious Asian species. I've observed some sporadic late-season repeat bloom.
Flower buds are said to be hardy to Z3-4, substantially hardier than with the Asian species. Also, this plant grows naturally on the edges of swamps and bayous and is said to be much more tolerant of wet or poorly drained soils.
So there are situations where this plant may be more useful than the Asian species. But don't expect it to involve any less maintenance work.
Dirr lists a W. sinensis cultivar named 'Blue Moon'. Either that's an error or there are two different cultivars with the same name in the same genus.
W. macrostachya used to be called W. frutescens var. macrostachya.
June 2016: This plant is blooming beautifully after a late hard (20F) spring frost killed all the flower buds on all the Asian wisterias I've seen here in Boston.
My husband just loves this plant. I am not as crazy it has big pea pod type seeds that pop all over and you have to constantly keep it gr...Read Moreowing where you want so it doesn't destroy trees or roofs. Also if you don't like bees we had a huge crop when they bloom. All in all I guess if it was like the honeysuckle vine and drew the hummers I would love it,but unfortunately it doesn't.
I have mixed feelings about this plant.
I tried it because authoritative sources claimed it was less aggressive than the m...Read More
local deer pruned my 2 yr. old plant severely multiple times weeks apart; not too poison for them.
My husband just loves this plant. I am not as crazy it has big pea pod type seeds that pop all over and you have to constantly keep it gr...Read More
Beautiful cultivar of the native species of Wisteria and great substitute for the highly invasive Chinese and Japanese versions.