I JUST PURCHASED ONE OF THESE BEAUTIES FROM MY LOCAL NURSERY. FORTUNATELY THEY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL WORKING THERE, (they have a weekly radio program on gardening & have written several books), AND I GOT QUITE AN EDUCATION. THE REALLY COOL PART IS THAT THEY HAVE BOTH TYPES GROWING NEXT TO A DRIVEWAY AROUND THE NURSERY. THE ASIAN WAS OUT OF CONTROL TO SAY THE LEAST. IT HAD TAKEN OCER TELEPHONE POLS, TREES, POWER LINES. I AM NOT SURE THERE WEREN'T A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND PETS IN THAT MESS! THE AMETHYST FALLS AMERICAN WISTERIA WAS QUITE CONTROLABLE AND LOOKED QUITE NICE, LESS THAT ONE THIRD THE SIZE AND THE SAME AGE. THEY TOLD ME TO EXPECT IT TO BLOOM FROM LATE SPRING REPEATEDLY UNTIL FALL. IT WAS HOT( FOR HERE) ABOUT 80 DEGREES AND I FOUND NO PEE SMELL, AND AFTER THE EARLIER POSTINGS I STUCK MY FACE RIGHT IN IT. I PLANTED IT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARBOR ABOUT 6 FEET WIDE AND TALL. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH MINIMAL ANNUAL TRIMMING, (LATE WINTER), IT SHOULD BE QUITE HAPPY THERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. AFTER THAT I DON'T REALLY CARE). I HAVE PUT BIRD FEEDERS INCLUDING HUMMING BIRD, ON AND AROUND THE ARBOR, AND SO FAR EVERYBODY SEEMS HAPPY. I WAS WARNED TO WATER IT REGULARLY TO KEEP IT MOIST, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST YEAR SO THE ROOTS BECOME WELL ESTABLISHED AND TO FEED IT WEEKLY THE FIRST YEAR THEN MONTHLY DURING THE GROWING SEASON AFTER THAT. SO FAR, SO GOOD, BUT MY NEIGHBORS CAT IS VERY INTERESTED IN IT ALL. I AM GETTING MY AIR HORN OUT FOR THAT ISSUE. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR WAS I GIVEN BAD INFORMATION?

Fman, I personally wouldn't grow a montana with any wisteria. Although the american version may not be as aggressive a grower as the japanese forms, the root systems on wisterias are rather large and the clematis will have to compete with it as it grows. Also, since the wisteria has already been planted, it has a head start on the clematis and since clematis tend to take three or so years to get establised, I fear the clematis may never be able to catch up. Other things come to mind also. How are you getting the wisteria to attach itself to the telephone pole? It is doing this all by itself or are you providing something for it to grasp onto? Clematis definitely need something small to grasp onto to climb. Granted it could use the wisteria vines to grab onto, but have you seen how large wisteria branches can get. What if the clematis is planted, does survive, and intertwines amongst the wisteria vines? Eventually the wisteria vines could get so big that they would grow together and crush the clematis vines. Should the clematis survive for several years and get established, you realize that montana Ruebens can eventually get from 22 to 30 feet in length. Is the wisteria going to eventually get that high for the clematis to use it as its climbing support? If not, the clematis will not have anything to cling to and drape back down over itself. Sounds enticing in and of itself, but is this the effect you desired? Just some thing to think about. Good luck on your decision!

We love our six year old Texas wisteria (see link below) even though it does need pruning in December back to the three main branches. I keep the main branches "clean" so it doesn't become a shrub and only occassionally have a new branch try to grow from near where the three branches arise from the ground, and they pop off quite easily with a slight tug. I leave two buds on each side branch and that seems to do the trick. The lovely thing has bloomed every year since we planted it. The only problem is that it blooms much later than other varieties, so I often have wisteria bloom envy and watch anxiously for its first buds to open! Still, it does look nice along side the Dream Weaver climbing rose when they bloom together, and it doesn't sprout up anywhere other than off of it's own main stems, so that hasn't been a problem. It will actually bloom more than once if we have an interval of cool, damp weather. In fact, it has one bloom on it right now, probably stimulated by the rains over a week ago. The blooms aren't as long as other varieties, but that doesn't bother me. Other than spraying it down with cold water to keep the mites down during the summer, it hasn't been a big challenge to grow. We have it trained up a strong rebar trellis attached to one of the steel "I" beams of carport and along a steel bar across the front of the carport. Birds love to perch among its leaves and build nests on the steel "I" beams of the carport, just behind the iron rod. So they have "bedroom and nursery" privacy from the street, but we can watch them from our 1960's steel chairs that hang on chains from the "I" beams closer to the house. The carport isn't strictly a porch, but it functions like one. Rain on the tin roof of the carport is the lovliest sound in the world. We've watched many a much needed rainstorm from under that carport and at times I've almost drifted off to sleep! The purple honeysuckle on the opposite side of the carport is also on a rebar trellis and is becoming a good nesting spot as well. Spring is great with all the birds nesting under the carport and then feeding their babes and teaching them how to fly. I love to check in with them in the morning before work and when I get home. They don't mess on my car, which is surprising and wonderful. Here is a link that might be useful: Texas wisteria

Hi Amazin , sorry I'm new at this web stuff ( mostly just a lurker) and couldn't find were I wrote to you the 1st time ... me feel so dumb with this puter stuff... but yes I have 9 begonias and 6 are from Logee's, some are named and other are ( pass a along's ) ..... Named ones= Begonia " Richardsiana" B." Snow Capped " B. "Tea Rose" B. "Hot Tamale" B. "Good and Plenty " B, "Tiny Gem " B. " Silver Queen " The Richardsiana has in pass week took a big flop , and so not sure whats up with it , taken it back into house , hope it was just heat stroking from 100 + daze we have been in for pass couple of weeks here in nastyville , so not sure about it. Two other's unknown named ones but pretty just the same and last one I think mite be B. " Sophia Cecile " not sure. I see you have " My Special Angel " have been looking at it in the catalogs . sorry I'm so long winded.... but sure there must be something in your long list that we can work with . P.s. I wont make it to any plant swap so..... not sure how we would do this if we've a mind to ???? But thanks for your time and effort if thats the only way .