Victoria County Master         Gardener Association

Of course, we all know you can check on the approximate age of vines by looking at the size of a vine as it comes from the soil. Some of these vines were too big for me to reach around.

The growth pattern of the vine didn't appear to be new but, instead, on well-established vines. I didn't see any new cuts anywhere on it. So, I thought this must not be invasive as some vines can be.

Identifying this plant

My discovery was before home computers were as common as they are today. There was a wonderful plant nursery nearby, and I took a leaf and bloom there and was told it was an evergreen wisteria. (A gardener at the museum had given me permission to take a small bloom and leaf from the plant.) Since it was relatively new to them at the nursery, they knew very little about it.

Brought to its new home

In due time, we moved to Victoria and for the first time I had a big garden that needed plants. So I was off and running. However, I couldn't find one of these elusive plants here.

Finally, I did get one when I was back in Houston, but I still knew relatively nothing about it.

When I brought it home I planted it in the backyard and had a long arbor built for it, hoping my evergreen wisteria would soon fill it. I was counting on it not to be invasive in its new home.

Many years later, it is a wonderful well-behaved plant that gives me fragrant, dark purple blooms off and on all summer into early fall.

Distinctly different from common wisteria

This beautiful, strong and hardy plant is native to several regions in China and Taiwan. The scientific name Millettia reticulata is a different plant from the more common wisterias we see in the spring. With fragrant lavender and sometimes white blooms, the common variety is known as the Chinese wisteria or by its botanical name Wisteria sinensis.

The evergreen wisteria's name is very misleading in that, by definition, it is not an evergreen. The vine drops its leaves in late December/early January with new ones appearing in mid-spring, making it bare for two to three months.

It has very distinctive blooms. They have a green-ivory middle, followed by just a touch of pink and ending with a very dark purple petal. The pea-like blooms grow in grape-like clusters and just sort of blend in with the dark, leathery, elongated leaves.

The newer leaves are very shiny and make a striking addition to any landscape.

Growing the evergreen wisteria

This wisteria is said to be in the legume family. It is said to fix nitrogen in the soil and this benefits other plants nearby.

Where to plant

It is ideal to plant the evergreen wisteria near a vegetable garden, perhaps on a garden fence, where you plan to put other plants that are heavy nitrogen feeders such as carrots, radishes, cucumbers or strawberries. Allow spacing for it to rise to a 20-foot tall hedge that can live 20-25 years.

Caring for this beauty

I have my wisteria in a dappled shady area. It seems to flourish and have no problems. I fertilize it when I fertilize other plants around it, and it seems to do fine. Because it produces its own nitrogen you may want to use a super phosphate fertilizer to encourage blooms.

It has never had any problems with pests or fungi. I have read that it can get whiteflies, spider mites or aphids. I have had none of these and it might be because I keep the rest of my yard pest- and fungi-free.

It does like to be watered about once a week - but I have not always been diligent to do so and it has been fine.

I started my plant by the usual methods of digging the hole and planting to the depth of the plant in the pot. I added compost around the area where the plant was placed and watered it in thoroughly. I was careful to watch and be sure it had no pests - and within a few months, it was well established.

Propagating

I have been told evergreen wisteria can be propagated from woody cuttings in late winter/early spring. Cuttings should be dipped in a 6-inch pot of perlite with root hormone applied before planting.

I have not tried to propagate this beauty, but plan to this coming spring. It will just be an experiment and a lesson for me as my evergreen wisteria is hardy and full of vigor and provides lovely blooms and fragrance to my landscape. It can do the same for you.