The deep purple flowers of evergreen wisteria (Callerya reticulata) are fragrant.
Barbara H. Smith, © 2024 HGIC, Clemson University
The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) team visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden in late August. The garden was full of blooms despite the sweltering heat. One plant that caught my eye was a vine called evergreen wisteria (Callerya reticulata, formerly Millettia reticulata). It was full of fragrant dark purple blooms. Its showy flowers were in clusters or racemes, like spring-blooming wisteria, but held outward instead of downward. Evergreen wisteria is native to Asia and is in the Fabaceae (legume) family with wisteria. Unlike Chinese (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese (Wisteria floribunda) wisteria, it is not invasive.
Plant evergreen wisteria in a full-to-part sun location. It is hardy in USDA planting zones 8 to 10. Evergreen wisteria grows best in soils that are well-drained. Water it regularly until it is established. Fertilize it twice throughout the growing season with a slow-release granular fertilizer, like Osmocote.
Despite the name, evergreen wisteria, it is not evergreen everywhere. In areas with colder winters, it may be semi-evergreen or lose all its leaves in winter. New leaves will grow from the woody stems the following spring. Add extra mulch to protect the roots when a cold snap is predicted.
Evergreen wisteria blooms through the hottest months of summer.
Ginger E. Long, © 2024 HGIC, Clemson University
Maintain the size of evergreen wisteria at 20 feet or less by pruning regularly in early spring. The multi-stemmed woody vines need sturdy support such as an arbor, pergola, trellis, or fence. The stems of the vines twine as they grow up the support. When planting several, space them 6 feet apart.
For more information about planting vines, see HGIC 1101, Vine Selections for Landscaping.
To see more photos from the Atlanta Botanical Garden, visit Barbara Smith’s photo blogs: https://hgic.clemson.edu/september-2-week-1-garden-photos/
