If you want to add floral vines to your yard, choose a nursery that can suggest non-invasive plants to protect your landscaping and the environment. The EDIS publication “Flowering Vines for Florida,” which offers images, details on growth conditions, and flowering dates on a number of flowering vines suitable for Florida settings, is another excellent resource.
The “Amethyst Falls” In the teaching gardens at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’) is growing.
Wisteria frutescens, also known as American wisteria, and millettia reticulata, also known as evergreen wisteria, are both gorgeous, non-invasive alternatives for your home’s landscape. The vivid blue/purple blossoms of the native American wisteria cultivar “Amethyst Falls” bloom in the spring and summer. The blossoms won’t require the frequent pruning and vigilance associated with Chinese or Japanese wisterias, even though they might not be quite as fragrant.
A plus is that American wisteria serves as a host plant for the larvae of both the long-tailed skipper and silver-spotted skipper butterflies. Only USDA zones 5 to 9 are suitable for American wisteria, therefore it won’t thrive everywhere in Florida.
Fortunately, the fragrant flowering vine evergreen wisteria, also known as summer wisteria, can take the place of invasive wisteria in gardens around the state. A non-native, non-invasive vine with small, fragrant flowers that bloom in the summer, evergreen wisteria has glossy, leathery green leaves. Evergreen wisteria, which isn’t really a wisteria, can grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 10, preferring full sun, though it can also tolerate some shade.
Both of these vines are better suited for cultivation in your home landscaping because they are more fragile and grow less quickly than invasive wisteria.
Wisteria plants: are they invasive?
Background In 1916, Chinese wisteria was first made available as an ornamental plant. Despite being weedy and disruptive, it has been widely planted, grown, and is still highly popular in the nursery industry.
Availability and Habitat Chinese wisteria, which is widely distributed in the eastern United States, has been found to be invasive in at least 19 states, ranging from Massachusetts to Texas south to Illinois. Although established vines will survive and propagate in moderate shade, wisteria likes full sun. Vines cling to trees, bushes, and man-made objects. Although it can tolerate a wide range of soil types and moisture levels, it likes deep, loamy soils with good drainage. Common locations for infestations include the edges of forests, the sides of highways, ditches, and right-of-ways.
Ecological Danger The tough, woody vines firmly entwine themselves around the trunks and branches of the host trees and sever the bark, causing death by girdling. On the ground, new vines that grow from seeds or rootstocks produce thickets that smother and shade out native plants and obstruct the growth of natural plant communities. Canopy gaps that result from dying girdled trees allow more light to reach the forest floor. While this might momentarily benefit certain local species, it also encourages wisteria to grow and spread vigorously.
- Plant: a clockwise-climbing, deciduous, woody twining vine with strong, smooth, gray-brown stems that are dusted with tiny white hairs. The diameter of older plants can reach 15 inches or more.
- The leaves are compound, alternate, and have 9–11–7–13 leaflets that are egg-shaped with wavy margins and sharply tapering tips.
- Flowers, fruits, and seeds: Prior to the development of leaves, flowering takes place in April. The flowers are lavender to purple, appear in pendulous racemes or clusters 6-8 (up to 12) in long, and mostly open at once. Individual flowers are 0.8-0.9 in. long on 0.6-0.8 in. long stalks (pedicels). The fruits are green to brown velvety seedpods 4-6 in. long, narrowed toward the base with constrictions between the 1-3 flat,
- Spreads vegetatively by creating stolons, which are above-ground stems that develop shoots and roots at irregular intervals, as well as via seed, which in riparian environments can be transported by water.
- Look-alikes include the Japanese and American wisterias (Wisteria frutescens), which have leaves that are 7 to 12 inches long, 9 to 15 leaflets that are all the same size, plane margins, tips that are acute to slightly tapering, smooth bright green above, and slightly milky undersides. They bloom in May after the leaves have expanded, with flower clusters that are 4-6 inches long and not particularly pendulous, and individual flowers that are about 3/4 inches long and
Control and Prevention Cut vines to free trees from the weight and girdling caused by modest infestations. Use a systemic pesticide containing glyphosate or triclopyr on the lower cut stem sections. From a seed, new plants may sprout. Long-term planning is necessary (see Control Options).
How can wisteria be stopped from growing?
Pruning wisteria twice a year is the best approach to prevent it from growing out of control. After the flowers have faded in the early to mid-summer and when the shoots from this year’s growth begin to look untidy, the first pruning should be done. The goal is to remove undesired shoots or suckers and to keep new development close to the main vine as follows:
- Trim fresh growth shoots to a length of 6 inches.
- Suckers at the roots should be removed.
- Prune shoots that are not needed for the main framework of the vine.
Since flowers only appear on one-year-old growth, this pruning strategy not only keeps the vine in a tight shape but also enables the blooms to be seen the following year.
Wisteria roots: are they invasive?
In order to support the massive vine, the wisteria’s root system extends out widely and dives deep. Do wisteria roots exhibit aggression? Yes, wisteria’s root system is highly aggressive. Avoid planting wisteria next to walls or walkways because of its extensive and strong root system. These are easily harmed by a wisteria’s root system.
Experts advise inserting a corrugated panel about 6 feet (1.8 m) long and several feet (1 m) broad beside the plant to redirect the roots if you find a wisteria close to a building or pathway.
What makes wisteria invasive, exactly?
Nonnative invasive species of southern forests: a field guide for identification and control, James H. Miller, 2003. SRS62, General Technical Rep. Asheville, NC: Southern Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 93 p.
Plant: up to 70 feet (20 meters) long deciduous high climbing, twining, or trailing leguminous woody vines (or cultivated as bushes). Due to probable hybridization, it is challenging to identify between Chinese and Japanese wisteria.
Stem. Woody vines with sporadic alternate branching and a diameter of 10 inches (25 cm). Twigs with short, thick hair. Compared to Japanese wisteria’s white bark, the older Chinese wisteria’s bark is tight and dark gray with light spots (lenticels).
Leaves. With 7 to 13 leaflets (Chinese) or 13 to 19 leaflets (Japanese) and stalks with swelling bases, these alternate, unusual pinnately complex plants range in size from 4 to 16 inches (10 to 40 cm). Oval to elliptic leaflets with tapering, pointy ends 1 to 1.4 inches (2.5 to 3.5 cm) width and 1.6 to 3 inches (4 to 8 cm) length. At adulthood, the hair ranges from being completely hairless to being short and smooth. entire and wavy margins. short petioled or sessile.
Flowers. April to May. When leaves first appear, dangling and spectacular stalked clusters (racemes) measuring 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) long and 3 to 3.5 inches (7 to 9 cm) wide appear.
9 cm) across. Chinese flowering all around the same time, or gradually from the base (Japanese). Pea-like flowers with purple to violet corollas (to pink to white). Fragrant.
seeds and fruit. June to November. Flattened legume pod, 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2 to 3 cm) broad, 2.5 to 6 inches (6 to 15 cm) long, and irregularly oblong to oblanceolate. One to eight flat, round, brown seeds, each measuring 0.5 to 1 inch (1.2 to 2.5 cm) in diameter, are released when the velvety hairy, greenish brown to golden, fruit splits on two sides.
Ecology. Where plants were once planted, create extensive infestations. occur in damp to dry environments. Colonize by runners roots at nodes while vines are coated in leaf litter, as well as by vines twining and covering shrubs and trees. Along riparian zones, seeds are distributed by water. Large seeds are less likely to be dispersed by animals.
W. frutescens (L.) Poir., which resembles native or naturalized American wisteria and does not produce significant infestations, grows in moist forests, blooms in June to August after leaves have emerged, and has slender old vines, 6-inch (15-cm) flower clusters, 9 to 15 leaflets, and hairless pods. Additionally, Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau, which has leaflets with coarsely toothed margins, may resemble trumpet creeper.
usage and history. introduced in the early 1800s from Asia. traditional porch vines in the South.
Recommendation for control measures:
Wet all leaves completely (till runoff) with one of the herbicides listed below in water with a surfactant:
- every year from July to October, when regrowth begins Tordon 101* at 3% (12 ounces per 3-gallon mixture), Tordon K* at 2% (8 ounces per 3-gallon mixture), or Garlon 4 at 4% (15 ounces per 3-gallon mix)
- every year from July to September, when regrowth starts to appear
- To protect nearby vegetation, use Transline* as a 0.5 percent solution in water (2 ounces per 3-gallon mixture).
- repeated applications of a 2-percent glyphosate pesticide from September to October (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix)
* Root uptake may cause harm or death to non-target plants. Transline has limited power over different plant species. Rainfall must occur within six days of the application of Tordon herbicides in order to activate the soil. Herbicides made with tordon are restricted use pesticides.
Can wisteria be kept in check?
Wisteria is one of the best ornamental vines because of its elegant foliage, fascinating drooping seed pods, stunning fall colors, and attractive gnarled trunks and twisted branches in winter. In addition, it has pendulous racemes that hang down to form a colorful curtain of fragrant flowers in the spring and summer.
Wisterias are robust, deciduous climbers that require a lot of space to develop. However, if they are trained as a standard, with their flowers hanging down like porcelain drop earrings, their lacy foliage and extraordinary beauty in bloom may still be appreciated in tiny settings. Additionally, since stepladders won’t be necessary, pruning your wisteria will be simple.
Short flower cluster wisterias would work better for this kind of planting.
- You can locate a lovely candidate among the Japanese Wisterias (Wisteria floribunda) in “Domino.”
- With their large racemes of intensely scented, densely packed flowers blossoming early in the season, the majority of Silky Wisterias (Wisteria brachybotrys or Wisteria venusta) would also suffice. These are available in a lovely assortment of hues, including “Shiro-kapitan” in white, “Okayama” in mauve, and “Showa-Beni” in pink.
What other plants may I grow in its place?
Japanese or Chinese wisteria’s native equivalent
- hummingbird favorite trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens).
- The host plant for pipevine swallowtail butterflies is the Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla).
- crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
How is a wisteria tree kept in check?
More drastic actions are required when wisteria has already taken over the entire area. Here’s how to drastically reduce it or do away with it entirely.
Hard Prune
The term “hard prune” refers to a Wisteria that needs to be severely pruned back. Basically, now is your time to remove all the extra growth and reduce the size of the wisteria.
Use pruners or, if necessary, a saw to trim the Wisteria’s top, get rid of growth from undesirable locations (like on your house or trees), remove stray branches, and reduce the size of the shoots. Also get rid of suckers and dead branches. If you wish to shape your wisteria, a hard prune is a great opportunity to set up the foundation.
Late winter, when wisteria is dormant, is typically the time for rigorous pruning. Even though wisteria is quite hardy, excessive pruning could kill it. To lessen the shock to the plant, gardeners frequently spread out a harsh prune over a few years. After a rigorous prune, you should also anticipate a decline in blooming for a few years. For additional details on hard pruning Wisteria, see our article on pruning.
Getting Rid of Wisteria
It’s possible that you’ve had enough of Wisteria and want to put an end to it. There are four major ways to get rid of wisteria on your property:
- Dig up as much of the root system as you can after cutting it down.
- Cut it down, then pull up all the new growth until the roots are killed.
- Use triclopyr or glyphosate (Roundup) to mist the foliage.
- Once it is reduced to a stump, treat it right away with a potent glyphosate or triclopyr solution.
If you have a huge Wisteria vine (or several), it will take some time and effort to get rid of it, just like it would to get rid of a hazardous weed. Herbicide use may require additional treatments, and all techniques include keeping an eye out for new growth.
The root system is the most difficult to eradicate, and some roots may survive and sprout new shoots despite your best efforts. Being constantly alert for new shoots and dealing with them right away, whether by pulling them up or spraying them, is the key to getting rid of wisteria. You’ll need to monitor for two or three growth seasons until no more shoots sprout.
Wisteria should be properly disposed of after being pulled out or cut down to prevent it from setting down new roots and sprouting new growth. Wisteria is not good for compost unless you have hot compost.
What distinguishes a wisteria tree from a wisteria vine?
Do wisteria vines and trees differ from one another? I’ve been looking for a place to buy a tree because I’ve seen photographs. I’m always being pointed toward the vine, though. Any information would be helpful.
“Wisteria is a deciduous twining climber native to China, Japan, and eastern United States; there is no botanical distinction between a Wisteria vine and a Wisteria tree. British Royal Horticultural Society The training and trimming make a difference. The tree form is a wonderful choice for planting Wisteria in a smaller garden because it has a 30-foot growth potential and may be rather aggressive. These two websites demonstrate how to shape a wisteria vine into either the traditional or tree form. There is also a link to instructions on growing wisteria.
Can wisteria grow on a fence?
Wisteria sinensis or W. floribunda are the two species that we grow the most frequently. The former Chinese wisteria bears its flowers prior to the development of its leaves. The blossoms of the Japanese wisteria floribunda develop simultaneously with its foliage. These details have a significant impact on the species you should choose to raise. W. sinensis thrives on vertical surfaces (house walls, fences, trellises), where its bare blossoms will be best seen. It is preferable for W. floribunda to grow up and over strong arches, arbours, and pergolas. As a result, the longer racemes (bunches of flowers) can hang down and be completely free of the leaves.
How to plant wisteria
Wisterias grow best in soil that is fertile but well-drained. Even though they perform best in direct sunlight, they can tolerate little shade. They can be grown in big containers. To prevent a “rain shadow,” make sure plants are 30–40 cm away from the base when growing up a vertical surface (the dry, shaded area closest to the base of walls and fences). Back the shoot up toward the ground.
Wisteria can be grown into a free-standing specimen; more on that later.
Training wisteria as a climber
When preparing Wisteria to climb, there are only four guidelines to remember:
- In July or August, reduce the whippy shoots from the current year to just five or six leaves. This improves bud formation and speeds up wood ripening by increasing air movement and light penetration through the leaf.
- In January or February, perform a second cut, only removing two or three buds.
- Strong, taut training wires positioned horizontally along a wall or fence are used to train desired shoots. Use soft twine to secure shoots to these wires.
- If it’s necessary to remove old, diseased, or unwanted shoots, wisteria will react nicely to hard pruning. However, be cautious since shoots entwine around one another; you don’t want to unintentionally harm good, productive growth.
Training wisteria as a free-standing specimen
In your garden, grow a few free-standing wisterias for something a little different.
- Plant a wisteria with a single stem next to a reliable support (1.5m or more). The single stem should be tied in and let to extend all the way to the support’s top.
- In the first spring after it has reached the peak, cut off the single stem tip.
- Trim the upper side shoots to 15 to 30 cm in length and remove the lower side shoots. The plant now has a sturdy “head” from which to grow.
- August is the time to prune August shoots back to seven leaves once the head has gotten sufficiently woody.
- To keep your shape, trim any old, undesirable head shoots in the winter.
- To reveal flower racemes, trim March shoots back to 2.5 cm of their bases.