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American Wisteria- Amethyst Falls

16 years ago

Hi, anybody grow Amethyst Falls or other American wisteria? I very much want a wisteria but I do NOT want it to take over my yard. I know the American version is supposed to be less invasive than the Chinese/Japanese. What experiences have you have w/ it and how does it spread? (Does it spread by both runners and seed pods?) Also, does it bloom all summer? And it's supposed to be fragrant too... I have a 20 ft deck that is 6 ft off the ground and I want a hardy vine to decorate it with. Thanks! Brandy

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Comments (4)

karyn1
16 years ago
I have what has been ID'd as an Amethyst Falls and I've had no problem with them taking over. I have two vines that are growing up 20' wooden light posts. They haven't sent out runners or even made any seed pods. The branches that drag on the ground will root but are easy to pull up. It puts out foliage later then other varieties and starts blooming later. I think it's a prettier flower and it will continue to put out an occasional bloom throughout the summer after the first flush. I even get another mini flush in the fall. The only negative thing I've heard is that it has an unpleasant scent but mine has no smell at all.
Karyn
brandyray
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you, Karyn. Disappointing to hear it has no fragrance but I will just have to plant something w/ it that does. Do you think 1 vine would be enough? My deck is 20 by 10. Brandy
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Hi amyta! Have you found something yet? I would recommend Aunt Dee, which is also a Kentucky wisteria and has a less controversial scent than Amethyst Falls. I bought an AF in bud without knowing anything about the fragrance. Oops! I expected it to smell like Aunt Dee (sweet, with violet & hyacinth like notes). I was not delighted with the smell of AF. It does have a musky smell, but itÂs not horrible to my nose, just odd. To me is smells like spicy basil, with a musky note like boxwood (cat urine). One of my sisters loves the fragrance and buries her nose in the blooms to savor it. On the other hand, another sister exclaimed, "What is THAT SMELL?!," the first time she was within a few feet of if. Sister #2 says, "It smells JUST LIKE cat urine." So, different strokes for different folks. Regards, PoseyPlanter
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Our winter was almost snowless. There were lots of mild periods followed by abrupt shifts to very cold with high windchills, then back to warm again. There were a number of days with rain while the ground was still thoroughly frozen. I think it's the extreme variability in temperature, combined with the lack of a protective snowcover that is doing all the damage both aboveground and below. I sure hope that next winter is a bit more normal!! rouge - if/when we get a good winter and a good wisteria show, we'll throw a party and invite you... :-) I've been tempted at times to try a 'Blue Moon' American wisteria, but I think we have enough to cope with with these two :-) If I'm right about the heave/damage belowground being part of the problem, the American wisteria might be damaged too since even they are at the limits of their hardiness here and I know people who have lost them during other winters here.
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The first is Wisteria floribunda, Japanese Wisteria. The second is Wisteria sinensis, Chinese wisteria. The third is Wisteria frutescens, American wisteria. Generally the Asian wisterias are more aggressive, larger vines that can seed around invasively, particularly in warm climates like yours. The flowers are scented and are longer hanging panicles. They can damage buildings so you don't want to plant one by your house unless you are willing to prune religiously. The American wisteria is less aggressive with somewhat smaller flower panicles and less sweetly scented. Here's a page that compares Amethyst Falls to general Asian wisterias though not any particular selection.
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karyn1
16 years ago
Brandy it depends on what you want it to cover. It needs something to climb on. It completely covered the 20' posts in a very short time, under 3 years. I would assume that it would grow in a more vertical position in about the same amount of time. Make sure what ever it's growing on is strong because the vines do get very heavy. I have some jasmine that grows along the same posts. You can't really see them but they do have a nice scent. I also grow morning glories on the posts to give it some color ofter the wisteria's done blooming.
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brandyray
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you, Karyn. You know, according to Wayside's catalog it is fragrant. but, I decided in the past that they 'enhance' colors and are not strictly truthful, so maybe "fragrant" is an exaggeration.
My deck is supported by 4 - 4's, hopefully that will be strong enough, then I can weave them through the stronger sections of the railings. Do you cut yours back in the fall? or at some other time to keep them in check?
I had considered sweet autumn clematis, but I decided it was likely to be too invasive in this climate. Brandy

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