Great Design Plant: Millettia Reticulata
Large purple flower clusters grace this robust climbing vine
Falon Mihalic
October 19, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Landscape Architect in Texas and Florida and owner of Falon Land Studio LLC. Through landscape design, I create spaces for quiet reflection and lush gardens using native plant palettes and sustainable stormwater techniques. I'm a contributing writer to Houzz so that I can be active in the conversation about sustainable design for residential projects. Learn more about my company's work at falonland.com
Houzz Contributor. Landscape Architect in Texas and Florida and owner of Falon Land... More
Evergreen wisteria (Millettia reticulata) has a confusing name, because it is not a true wisteria, nor is it evergreen everywhere that it grows. It is a gorgeous, reliable, fragrant flowering vine that will climb to a height of 30 feet in favorable growing conditions. Plant it with support to provide lush shade over a walkway or patio, or use it to create a thick living wall on a trellis or cables.
Unlike the lavender-blooming Chinese and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis and W. floribunda), evergreen wisteria is not an invasive plant. Plant it in autumn to establish the roots through the winter. It will quickly cover a pergola, provide a perfumed scent and attract pollinators throughout the spring and summer.
Unlike the lavender-blooming Chinese and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis and W. floribunda), evergreen wisteria is not an invasive plant. Plant it in autumn to establish the roots through the winter. It will quickly cover a pergola, provide a perfumed scent and attract pollinators throughout the spring and summer.
Botanical name: Millettia reticulata
Common names: Evergreen wisteria, summer wisteria
Origin: Southern China
Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 8 to 11; find your zone); evergreen throughout the winter in zones 9b and 10; semideciduous in zones 9a and 8
Soil requirement: Adaptable to any well-draining soil
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Can reach 15 to 30 feet high and 15 feet wide (3 to 6 feet wide at the base)
Shown: A cluster of pinkish-purple flowers on evergreen wisteria
Common names: Evergreen wisteria, summer wisteria
Origin: Southern China
Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 8 to 11; find your zone); evergreen throughout the winter in zones 9b and 10; semideciduous in zones 9a and 8
Soil requirement: Adaptable to any well-draining soil
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Can reach 15 to 30 feet high and 15 feet wide (3 to 6 feet wide at the base)
Shown: A cluster of pinkish-purple flowers on evergreen wisteria
Benefits and tolerances: Very fragrant flowers; blooms during intense summer heat; drought tolerant; attracts pollinators; a good noninvasive alternative to Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda)
Seasonal interest: Large, colorful blooms all summer
When to plant: Autumn is preferable to establish roots during the winter, but it can be planted year-round.
Shown: Young evergreen wisteria vines being trained onto the posts of a pergola
Seasonal interest: Large, colorful blooms all summer
When to plant: Autumn is preferable to establish roots during the winter, but it can be planted year-round.
Shown: Young evergreen wisteria vines being trained onto the posts of a pergola
Distinguishing traits. Evergreen wisteria is a woody climbing vine that will cover large areas with lush, almost shrub-like, growth. Its foliage is finely textured, with compound leaves of pointed leaflets that are a dark, glossy green. Prolific clusters of pea-like flowers appear throughout spring and summer. The flowers can range from a dark lavender-purple to a reddish maroon.
Shown: The finely textured foliage of an evergreen wisteria climbing up a large pergola
Shown: The finely textured foliage of an evergreen wisteria climbing up a large pergola
How to use it. Evergreen wisteria is best used on a large pergola or trellis. It has excellent heat tolerance and blooms profusely throughout the summer. This is a robust plant, growing quickly up and over structures. Use it to provide living shade on a pergola over a patio, as pictured here.
Planting notes. Evergreen wisteria is a vigorous climbing vine and a rapid grower. Take care to plant it by itself — not near any trees or shrubs — so that it does not spread over other plantings. If it does get out of hand, simply shear it back. It is easy to train up a trellis or pergola as long as you give it support cables or posts that it can wrap its twining stems around. Evergreen wisteria responds well to annual pruning, so shear it as you like to keep it from sprawling.
Plant transplants 6 to 8 feet apart for an instantly lush effect. The vine can also be spread by air layering, which is best done in early spring. If you live in the colder parts of this plant’s prime growing zones, be sure to heavily mulch the root crown to reduce potential frost damage.
Shown: The base of a mature evergreen wisteria vine
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Plant transplants 6 to 8 feet apart for an instantly lush effect. The vine can also be spread by air layering, which is best done in early spring. If you live in the colder parts of this plant’s prime growing zones, be sure to heavily mulch the root crown to reduce potential frost damage.
Shown: The base of a mature evergreen wisteria vine
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Hi ibseyb- I wouldn't recommend a traditional container because it will not stand the test of time for this gregarious plant. However, you could build a simple raised bed (of any shape and style you want) and plant the Evergreen Wisteria there. A raised bed gives you control over the soil without having to confine the root ball to a container and a raised bed won't dry out as quickly as a container. I hope that helps!
I had one of these I planted at the base of my deck in Austin, TX. It was quite hardy once it was established after the first year. I grew-up in North Central Florida where wisteria grows everywhere, but you never see the evergreen wisteria. Since moving back to Florida I have looked everywhere for evergreen wisteria, I like it much better because it is easier controlled/less invasive and I find the flowers more attractive with richer/deeper color. However, I can't find it for sale anywhere, even out of state plant nurseries. I originally purchased mine from the Home Depot in Hutto, TX. Anybody know where I can find this available for shipping or at a nursery somewhere in Florida?
I got mine from a nursery in Ocala. Can't remember the name, but I think it's Eldon Nursery. It was several years ago, so I hope they're still in business. If they are, they ship.