Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
chriskelly13

Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon' -- what was I thinking?

chriskelly13
13 years ago

Hi, (this is cross posted from "vines" which doesn't seem to be too active.)

Just received my Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon' from Wayside Gardens, and am wondering what I was thinking now that I've learned about the potential size of wisterias. I was planning to grow it along a front post of the front entryway (a sturdy 3 foot porch overhang, rising to just below the second story) but am concerned it will take over the structure.

My other option is along the wall of our 1920s garage (a structure not used for cars anymore.) Will it need to be staked to climb a wall? Other parts of the gardens or fences are too shady.

Thanks for any ideas..... I'm feeling paranoid about planting it where it can take over the world--or at least my world.

Comments (11)

  • kimka
    13 years ago

    Wisteria doesn't have to be the thug that it most often is written up to be. The key is in the pruning, which also gets you more flowers. And the flowers are beautiful.

    There is a great video on correctly pruning wisteria at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvmgNSWoPgY

    Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning wisteria

  • cynthia_gw
    13 years ago

    If the garage is attached to the house and you do not keep up with the pruning it will cover the garage and move on to the house in 5 years. Yes it can be controlled if you are vigilant with pruning every year. If there are trees nearby it can reach out from the top of the garage and start climbing into them too. So the key is to be very careful where you site it, and if you let it climb up onto anything know that it will keep going!

  • ellicottcitycathy
    13 years ago

    We took down our old metal awning support this year. We had grown wisteria on the awning support (patio sized 10 x 12') for 15 years. Apparently patio sized awnings were hip in the 1970s when our rancher was built. The awning supports were very sturdy: my 200 lb. teenage boys can swing on them without bending. The wisteria trunks were 8-12 inches in diameter after 15 years.

    During the summer months, if it rained, the wisteria had to be trimmed every two weeks. Each trimming filled two trash cans (you can't compost it). It grew up under the roof shingles in a week if we didn't keep it cut far back from the house. I pruned according to the literature and got flowers for three different years out of the 15 years. Still don't know why it flowered or why not. This year we replaced the old awning supports and wisteria with a wooden pergola and we don't miss it!

    I do have three sprouts that survived on my swap list if anyone wants a vigorous twining climber! They are about five feet tall at this point.

  • kimka
    13 years ago

    Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon' is much less agressive than the asian wisteria. It is only supposed to get about 15-20 feet rather than the 30-40 etc.

  • chriskelly13
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Wow, I'm even more paranoid now. The garage is detached and about 15 feet from the nearest trees. But I don't want to be pruning every couple of weeks. (and Kimka, thanks for the great links on that.)

    Now I'm thinking I could put this in a community garden we work on. It's an isolated triangle in the middle of two streets. Full sun. But there would be nothing to for it to climb on....so I guess that wouldn't work.

    I'm regretting spending the $30 for the plant now!

  • aimeekitty
    13 years ago

    chriskelly, but you bought the blue moon type, it's not as aggressive. you'll probably be ok.

  • cynthia_gw
    12 years ago

    archtropical - Very little is aggressive in your zone 4 compared to the warmer climates of this area. You probably didn't realize you were in Mid Atlantic forum?

  • arctictropical
    12 years ago

    Hi Cynthia. Yes, I realized I was in the Mid Atlantic forum. I just wanted to let others know how wonderful 'Blue Moon' is. I've seen aggressive wisteria in my area. My largest Chinese wisteria is finally sending out a few new branches, so it did not totally die after all. I keep my oriental wisteria pruned back every year. Otherwise I can see that it could possibly take off the roof of my garden shed. It has a fairly good sized trunk, even in zone 4.

  • Patrick-7a-MD
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Blue Moon is a variety of Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya), which is a native vine and not as aggressive as Chinese or Japanese wisterias. You should try it as planned.

Sponsored
Outdoor Spaces
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars19 Reviews
Experienced Full Service Landscape Design Firm Serving Loudoun County