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Botanical name: Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’
Most likely the best known cultivar of American wisteria; the deliciously fragrant pale lilac-purple flowers have a yellow spot, and look like grape clusters; vines can grow quite woody and provide gorgeous dense coverage for an arbor or trellis.
Other names: American Wisteria
| Hardiness zone | 4b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | royal blue |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | spreading |
| Mature height | 30 feet |
| Spread | 24 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Amethyst Falls Wisteria is clothed in stunning chains of fragrant royal blue pea-like flowers with yellow eyes hanging below the branches from mid to late spring. It has green foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The narrow pinnately compound leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Amethyst Falls Wisteria is a multi-stemmed deciduous woody vine with a twining and trailing habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a high maintenance woody vine that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Spreading
Amethyst Falls Wisteria is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use
Amethyst Falls Wisteria will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. As a climbing vine, it tends to be leggy near the base and should be underplanted with low-growing facer plants. It should be planted near a fence, trellis or other landscape structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it, or allowed to trail off a retaining wall or slope. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This woody vine should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.
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