[wisteria and bulbs]
#129 of 365

"wisteria is a genus of about ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern united states and the east asian states of china, korea, and japan. aquarists refer to the species hygrophila difformis, in the genus hygrophila, as water wisteria.

wisteria vines climb by twining their stems either clockwise or counter-clockwise round any available support. they can climb as high as 20 m above ground and spread out 10 m laterally. the world's largest known wisteria vine is located in sierra madre, california, measuring more than an acre in size and weighing 250 tons.

the leaves are alternate, 15 to 35 cm long, pinnate, with 9 to 19 leaflets. the flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 10 to 80 cm long, similar to those of the genus laburnum, but are purple, violet, pink or white, not yellow. flowering is in the spring (just before or as the leaves open) in some asian species, and in mid to late summer in the american species and w. japonica. the flowers of some species are fragrant, most notably chinese wisteria. the seeds are produced in pods similar to those of laburnum, and, like that genus, are poisonous."

we have 5 wisteria plants that are about to cover our pergola. three are of the purple flowering genus and the other two are of the white flowering genus. it normally takes about 10 years for a wisteria to reach maturity and bloom. our purple vines are only four years old and this is the second year that one has bloomed. last year, the bigger vine bloomed one massive pod and this year, nothing. but a different vine bloomed 3 pods. i just happened to notice it last night when we were waiting for the lightning to flash.

our white vines are only two years and i don't plan on seeing them bloom for a couple years yet. i am learning the art of propagation so hopefully i'll be able to successful get more plants next year. here's to hoping. . .