Wisteria is said to symbolise long-life and immortality, probably because Wisteria can live up to 100 years or even older.
Japanese Wisteria: Wisteria florabunda! They grow in a clockwise direction!
We inherited the Wisteria growing at the back of the house and it is definitely a case of wrong plant, wrong situation. Whoever originally planted it probably had the idea of having a beautiful display of flowers in May/June. What we actually have is a beautifully flowering Wisteria that should have been grown over a pergola so that when the flowers come they dangle underneath. What we have is a small space, that whilst the flowers are beautiful they are quickly hidden with leaves.
So over the past few years I have hacked it back to keep it in check as the tendrils grow through the bathroom window, up through the guttering and though the french windows: it's a thug!
This year however, after 7 years, I'm quite liking it!
I also bought (for a client, and kept it) a pink, highly scented wisteria, although I can't remember the name, I have been growing it round a pole and am trying for the umbrella effect! the flowers are a very different colour to the ones of the wisteria at the back of the house and they smell beautiful!
Chinese Wisteria: Wisteria sinensis! grow in a counter clockwise direction
This is a Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria Sinensis, it grows in a counter clockwise direction, their flowers are scented and there nectar is sweet!
Chinese wisteria also contains toxic compounds that can cause severe gastrointestinal problems in dogs and cats if they were to consume it@