Spring after spring we waited for our wisteria vine to bloom. For seven years nothing happened. We probably should have consulted with Andre Viette after the first year or so to see what we could have done or should have done. I know you can over fertilize or even over water wisteria but that was not the problem. You can also prune the wisteria vine way back while dormant, but we like the shade it provided. While the vine grew rapidly, providing much needed shade for the deck, it just wouldn’t bloom. Finally, this year, when I didn’t think the spring flowers in our area were at their best, we noticed buds appearing, and wow, the most beautiful blooms you could ever imagine started showing.
Wisteria is a very hardy, fast growing vine that does well in partial and full sun which makes it a great choice for shade cover but careful planning should used when choosing any plant for shade. The wisteria vine can grow rapidly, taking a hold of everything in sight, including gutters, downspouts, shutters, etc. They also become very heavy on a trellis or pergola so good support is a must. If you want your wisteria to bloom, be patient, it may take up to a decade to see the beautiful flowers.
I don’t think there is an absolute approach to enjoying your garden plants. If you are not happy with a plant or shrub, by all means, remove it or replace it with something else. If you are satisfied, leave it alone and enjoy the shade.
Thanks to guest blogger Randy
