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Trees & Shrubs - Australia

wisteria

21 years ago

Has anyone had any experience standadizing a wisteria?

I would like to have a go at growing one in a pot and would like a few tips.

What size pot is the best to use, is there a type that is better as a standard? And any other tips you all can offer would be great.

With Thanks

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Comments (5)

lakota
21 years ago
Growing wisteria as a standard is pretty simple really. Choose a variety which you like the look of. I prefer japanese varieties as they have longer flower racemes such as macrobotrys. Rosea is also lovely but any will do. Use a very strong stake which you put in your pot at the same time as you put the plant in. Choose the strongest stem or leader as your main trunk. I like to twine my main stem around the stake as it helps to make it stronger, and I just like the way it looks. Tie the stem to the stake at regular intervals. Pinch off all the side shoots til you have only whats near the top of your main stem. Some people put a framework at the top of the stake for the stems to grow over but I never have and mine have grown beautifully. How much foliage you have depends on what you like in a standard.

I hope this helps and you get loads of enjoyment out of your wisteria and that it won't be too long til it flowers for you.

Cheers, Jules
wombat
21 years ago
I have a very old wisteria growing on (and in) a garage. It is magnificent both in flower and in leaf. I have "trained" it to branch out from the garage to provide shade for ferns and palms. When in flower, the branches are weighed down considerably and it is necessary to duck as one comes out the back door.

Having seen what a mature wisteria can do, I would advise against using a wooden stake. They can be incredibly strong and robust plants and I think I would be going for something more sturdier.

There is a standard wisteria down the street from me which is growing on a metal support - looks like a length of 2" galvanised water pipe with a wheel contraption of about 1 metre diameter welded to the top. The top of the plant is pruned back to about 60cm of growth above the wheel each winter, and what is left is quite thick and sturdy growth and would be quite heavy.

During flowering it looks like a mauve umbrella with long fringes of flowers hanging down - beautiful!!

I'm not to sure either about winding the stem around. I made the mistake of weaving some stems through lattice. Apart from ripping the lattice apart, some of the stems have grown completely around the lattice, which I would imagine would weaken the stems and create entry points for fungus, etc.

Wisteria is such a beautiful plant and the perfume...!! But it is mind boggling to see what this delicate looking young plant can grow into. Our ultimate plan is to remove the garage from under the plant and replace it with a pergola - with steel trusses.
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startingout
Original Author
21 years ago
thank you for all your tips. I cant wait to get started.
Do you guys have in photos you could share?

With thanks
Catby
lakota
21 years ago
Point taken, Wombat, though I forgot to mention when I said stake I actually used a 6ft star picket with gaffa tape wrapped around to reduce damage to the stems. A friend of mine has a wisteria over his pergola and had to replace the uprights with pylons. This plant is about 90 years old, maybe older.

Sorry, Catby, I don't have any pics of mine as I gave it to a dear friend as a pressie when I made the move from city to country.

Cheers, Jules
kg1970
8 years ago
does anyone know about amethyst wisteria?

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