I have already done my own searching for this wisteria. Yes, there are plenty of nursreries that sell them in a small one gallon or quart size container and I have called a number of them to see if they have a larger size. They don't; I found one place that has only 2 and I need a total of 4. This is why I came on hear just to ask if anyone else knows if there is a place that They know of that sells them around 4' tall; not so I can be told to just do my own research since that is what I have been doing. So if someone knows and can actually be of help, then please do answer this posting. Thank you.

you can also train it to support itself! Very pretty to arch over the opening to the arbor...two ways: as it suckers up from the base, braid it loosely and stake it with a tall piece of bamboo (which can eventually deteriorate, or a u-post that is to the side and be sure to remove it before it becomes part of the vine; then you can also train it to arbor into/onto itself, about the same way...tying it with jute or green cotton "kitchen crochet yarn", something that will naturally dispose of itself. The important thing to know is that wisteria always wants to grow up, it does get massive and can get extremely heavy...heavy enough to crush lattice work

Thanks. All shoots bear flowers on the Asians too; nonetheless the spur growths are an important part of the maturing of the vines to a flowering state, so I'm curious to see if they occur on the native type too. It's pity - and surprising too - that there doesn't seem to be detailed botanical information out there on the native types. Perhaps I'm just not using the right search terms.... update... I just did a search on 'Kentucky wisteria flowering spurs' and found the U. of Illinois Extension site that says 'in summer, prune excess growth back to 1/3 to induce short spurs' so that would seem to indicate that they do occur for the American types too - although the 5-10 years to bloom seems to me to repeat the common view of Asian types, not what is commonly said re American types. There is a lot om misinformation/foggy information on wisteria out there! That's why I'd like to see for myself (through your camera!) what the actual situation is. Here is a link that might be useful: Univ. of Illinois Hort Answers This post was edited by woodyoak on Mon, Jun 24, 13 at 20:31

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.