Wisteria

Having done a blog posting about Wisteria recently I discovered when we went to Bicton Park near Exeter that it has probably the oldest Wisteria in Britain.


It really is a magnificent specimen.
 

Wisteria

One plant that seems much more common down South than in the North (of England) or in Scotland is Wisteria.


Wisteria is a genus of about ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern United States and the East Asian states of China, Korea, and Japan. Wisteria vines climb by twining their stems either clockwise or counter-clockwise round any available support. They can climb as high as 20 m above ground and spread out 10 m laterally. The world's largest known Wisteria vine is located in Sierra Madre, California, measuring more than an acre in size and weighing 250 tons.


The great wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga, Tochigi (Japan) is aged approx. 140 years and its branches spread to 1,200 Tatamis (approx. 1,990 Square metres) as of May 2008.

Wisteria, especially Wisteria sinensis, is very hardy and fast-growing. It is considered an invasive species in certain areas. It can grow in fairly poor-quality soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained ones. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. Wisteria can be propagated via hardwood cutting, softwood cuttings, or seed.


The genus was named after Daniel Wister (1738-1805), the son of notable Quaker and businessman John Wister of Philadelphia.