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Gardening in the UK

Help needed with Wisteria seeds

20 years ago

I have posted this message onto the growing from seed forum as well but would like a UK slant on this issue and possibly hear from anyone who has tried germinating Wisteria seeds.

I recently obtained some Wisteria seeds which I need to dry out and plant. However, on reading up on this plant I see that they say the effort is not worth it - bad germination and even if I am successful the plants don't flower well. Since it is very expensive to buy these plants I would have loved to have sewn from seed. What do the fundi's think??

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Comments (7)

alison_froglady
20 years ago
I don't really know much about wisteria from seeds, so sorry about that.
I bought a plant 2 years ago which was quite small and last year it did do a lot better putting on a lot of growth so I am persevering with it. It is a standard wisteria not a climbing one. I have heard since buying it that it doesn't flower for the first 6 years. Had I known that I wouldn't have got such a small plant. It was expensive for what it was really so maybe I wouldn't have bought one at all. If you are prepared to wait for years then try your seeds you could be surprized.
Alison
moriati
20 years ago
First: The seeds have to be ripe. Leave the pods on the vine, they drop off in their own good time. At this stage they will be extremely hard and dry.

Second: Place the pods in an empty bucket and place out of the way. When they are in the mood to grow, the pods will explode scattering the seed. With luck some will stay in the bucket.

Third: These loose seeds should then be sown (SOWN) in a pot of compost in the normal manner. Germination is erratic but not difficult.

Fourth: Remember though, a wisteria vine expects to live for maybe 300 years and is not in a great hurry to do anything rash like flowering.
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If you're not a gardener or experienced with growing things, a wisteria may not be a suitable plant for you.... They need a lot of pruning in order to be keep them under control and ensure that they flower well. They also need a very sturdy support, even if grown as a 'tree' (my preferred way to grow them as it makes maintenance much easier....). If you're not willing to do the work required to control them, it it best not to plant it at all. While you are deciding what to do, if you have a large pot, plop the plant into that with some soil (a mix of potting soil and some compost would do) and water it well to see how it recovers. If it recovers well and looks healthy, take the time to ensure you understand and are willing to do the work involved to grow it well and control it and have adequate support in place in a suitable location before planting it in the ground.
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cincinnata
20 years ago
Long time since I have heard the word 'fundi'! Here the wisterias self seed very easily, every Spring, from the seeds that fall from the adult plants. I'm afraid I can't tell you how long they take to flower as the gardener pulls them all out as fast as he can!
jitterbug_bh23
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks to all the input from members - much appreciated. As to the leaving it to ripen on the vine - Oops! I found the seed on holiday in France and 'picked' them. So I do not know whether they are ripe enough - but I will follow the suggestion of putting them in a bucket in a dark place and monitor. So keep your fingers crossed that they were mature enough and pop. I spoke to an 'expert' this week-end and they say that if I was successful in germinating the seed it should flower in about 12 years!! Well by then I'll be retired and can talk to it every day ;-)
User
20 years ago
buy a decent grafted plant - you will get good flowering without waiting forever. Expect to pay around Â£18.00 - hardly expensive for a lifetime of pleasure!
hsmith819
19 years ago
ok i have heard from 6 to 20 years in flowering, but how long does it take for them to start growing from seeds and how do i plant and should i buy any special compost? confused in Maryland
flora_uk
19 years ago
All the advice I have ever heard/read is to buy known cultivars, preferably seeing them in bloom before buying, as seed-raise plants can be very disappointing, even when they do eventually flower. However, that's not to say it's not fun growing from seed as well.

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