Thanks laceyvail. Ironically, last year I bought two perennials, planted them and just left them. This spring I noticed they looked dead and instead of uprooting them, just cut them to the ground thinking they were probably dead. This year, due to a friend's enthusiasm, I started planting from seed inside in late winter with marginal results. I was also the beneficiary from some wonderful people at a great plant swap in Billerica, MA. I also planted more perennials in June/July for fall planting and plan on trying winter sowing in December. Thanks again, I'll be cutting back my (much more than 2!) perennials this fall.

Thanks for all the answers, folks. Ingrid, we don't have gophers (a blessing, from what I hear from your Californians) or other major root-eating pests, and there's no sign of earth disturbance. I don't think it's root damage. Windeaux's suggestion of graft failure sounds as likely as anything. There are no signs of disease on the other two wisterias. And this plant died all at once: I never saw a plant leave faster. It looks as though there may be a couple of young shoots of it still alive, though. If they live and eventually flower it will be interesting to see what the blooms look like. Michaelg, our wisteria pergola runs along the from of our house, extending beyond it, and is about thirty feet wide and twelve feet deep. This is our summer outdoor living room and where I keep my potted plants during warm weather, and it does a lot to keep our south-facing house cooler in the summer. Naturally since the wisteria is deciduous we get the winter sun when we need it. Actually, "summer living room" is too kind a term, but this messy space has the potential to be just that, and I do spend time on the recliner and at the table. Hoovb, I know that some folks on the forum have a--no doubt well justified--hatred of wisteria, but for me it's one of the most beautiful and perfect plants there is, and I will plant it in every garden I have where it will grow. It was everywhere in Florida where I grew up, which may have something to do with my fondness for it. I adore the fragrance of wisteria; to me it actually smells purple. Jackie, I always thought of wisteria as unkillable as well; that's what surprises me about this. The death of a major climber is not the problem it would normally be, because we have two other plants (and this was the least critical for protection from sun) that can take over and occupy the space this one covered. That is, AS LONG AS THE OTHER TWO DON'T DIE. I figure that in a couple of years the space will be covered again and we'll be fine. Melissa

2 years... plus or minus a year. I've had figs fruit the 1st year and I have 3 year old trees that finally fruited.

Brad I have Amethyst Falls which isn't terribly aggressive either. I personally think it's the prettiest wisteria with shorter fuller blooms. It also blooms later in the season then the Oriental varieties. After the initial flush it will continue putting out a few blooms at a time all summer. The one negative I've heard about Amethyst Falls is that it can have an offensive odor but mine never has. Mine has no smell at all. I might be able to find a rooted runner. If I can't find a rooted piece I can take cuttings but have no idea if they can be rooted. The blooms aren't fully open in these pics.