Did you ever get these?

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.

Hi katie, lisanti. I grow both of the vines mentioned. The Wisteria is by far the more aggressive vine. I don't think anything would be necessary to help the Wisteria climb to the roof because the long, long, long shoots it sends out could be left to grow long, and then thrown up to the lanai roof. A couple nails on the supporting posts would also allow it to climb. The main disadvantage to the American Wisteria is that it is very aggressive, and like lisani says, it can take a year or 2 before you see this part. The Aristolochia. What can I say? My very favorite vine. Sure, the flowers are small, and if bloom or fragrance is the prime concern, then skip planting this one. But is covering an area with lush, shingled green is where you're at, then Aristolochia is unbeatable. When other vines have shifted to flowers and making terminal buds, this one is still growing. When summer drought has turned to cool fall, this one grows, covering any bare areas that resulted from the drought, re-greening the bare spots where the Pipevine Caterpillars have eaten. At the same time, it is a gentle vine, never growing more than a foot or so down (the tips die unless they are at least a little pointing up). It doesn't make the runners typical of Wisteria, so it can go years without pruning. The one drawback to the Aristolochia is the dieback in the winter. Many of the smaller vines die, leaving a tangle of small brown vines. During the summer, this dead material is invisible from the sunny side, but behind the vine (your inside room), the brown is visible. If you are a neat freak, this is not the vine to plant. On the plus side, you can cut it all down to the railing and it will re-green. The plant is like the tortoise of the fable. It doesn't jump out and start growing with the first ray of sun in the spring. But it also doesn't stop growing after a flush of flowers like many vines, it keeps greening and greening whatever it is growing on, all summer long. And unlike the Wisteria, it doesn't run over to the neighbors and swallow their house too. I like my Wisteria macrostachya, but the Aristolochia is better behaved and less work. Aristolochia last year.

Beautiful photos arctictropical!! I currently have my one year old wisteria planted on the south side of my husband's garage- it is in full sun at the base and will have some shading from the overhang for the vines once they get going. My questions is: where is the most suitable spot to plant these? - In regards to optimum growth. This winter, I thought it had died, but sure enough it popped out about a month ago and is seemingly growing well but still very small. ( no mulching or protection ) Any imput would be appreciated as I'm from Vancouver and would LOVE to have this in my garden. I live in NW Calgary now. Thanks for your time, Elisabeth BTW - I bought mine last year and just saw them today for sale at Golden Acres off McKnight in Calgary ( approx. $40 ) 2 gal