Topic: Killer Wisteria

[Dianna]

Though I believe the wisteria will end up eating the South alive, if kudzu doesn't do it first, the wisteria sure is pretty around here...





We saw several trees along the road covered in wisteria on our way home from shopping yesterday...

[plants n pots]

WOW Dianna!!!
Did it smell heavenly there?
There's only one small patch of wisteria anywhere near where I live - last year I took a few cuttings - it's on the side of a road in an entrance to a sports club -, but they didn't root for me.  I had forgotten about it, so thanks for the timely reminder!  It's not quite time for them to bloom here, but I'll have to keep my eye out, as I don't usually go down that road.

[Jim]

It sure is pretty this time of year, but the damage it does to the other trees is terrible.  This stuff gets started and other than pulling it out by the roots, you can't get rid of it.  It's not quite as bad as bamboo but it's close.  Dianna was right in that it closely resembles the characteristics of kudzu.  If we had some it would have to be kept in a pot.

The back boundary of our land backs up to some sustainable forest that belongs to International Paper.  We have not seen any Wisteria there yet, but on a road that borders this property there are a number of trees that didn't have it last year and they are covered this year.  We'll be watching to see where it goes.

[Tina]

Pulling up by the roots will only work if you get ALL of the roots. And the stuff seeds like crazy too. I planted some on purpose here and then moved it when it tried to choke out some trees. I keep on moving more and more of it now.

[Patty S]

Reading this makes me wonder if I should carry out what I'm planning....

Someone told me that they cut their Wisteria back & keep it as a hedge, so I wanted to try that too. I need something to deter the deer from one part of my slope above the Iris, where it's real peaty. (Long story how it got to be that way.) I have Periwinkle & Basket of Gold started on the slope right now, hoping the roots will hold the soil, but when the deer go up & down that part, they get the dirt sliding down where it keeps burying my Iris rhizomes. 

I have some Wisteria plants that I started from seeds a couple months ago, but if I use them to start a hedge, will new plants form along the roots & get out of hand, or will chopping them out as they emerge control them?

[Jim]

From this article it appears that you could use it as a hedge as long as you keep it cut back. Lots of good information there. Interesting that it says that some grown from seeds don't bloom for 10-15 years.

I think it is beautiful but that article says it can choke a tree less than 10 inches in diameter rather quickly. That's some mean stuff!

I guess we will just look at it on other folks property.

[Bonnie]

Patty, make sure you want this beautiful devil, because it is a big pain to get rid of. I love it, but don't want it everywhere.
I have some planted in a big pot.

Bonnie

[Bonnie]

These are some pictures that Dianne took with my camera last week end.

Bonnie

This is wisteria eating azaleas

[/img]

This is white wisteria

[Bonnie]

This is wisteria nibbling on pine bark.

[Patty S]

I didn't know they came in white, but I want some of those!!
(Got seeds?)

Did I see somebody mention that it takes these 7 years to flower from seed? I don't care if I have to wait ... I'm not going anywhere! (And... if they get out of hand, I'll be the first to say, "I was warned"!)

[Bonnie]

The white ones are down the street from me on both sides of the road. Maybe we can get some seeds. I guess it depends on how nice the people are or how well they can see at dark. lol

Bonnie

[Jim]

Did I see somebody mention that it takes these 7 years to flower from seed? I don't care if I have to wait ... I'm not going anywhere!  (And... if they get out of hand, I'll be the first to say, "I was warned"!)

The article I read said some grown from seeds took 10-15 years to bloom.  Starting from cuttings, etc. bloomed quite a bit sooner.

[MassMama]

It depends on the type of wisteria that you have.. I have a purple one and it can take up to 15 years from a seed.. While the pink could take up to 7 and I think it is the same for the white...

Cuttings are VERY difficult I have tried several ways to do them.

Cuttings at various times of the year
Hormone
No Hormone
The only thing I have not tried is layering (because I am going for a tree effect)

You will not have any RIPE seeds till fall.. I did give all mine away last year and everyone that got one said they grew Well... they come in Giant fuzzy Pods