Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’

Wisteria frutescens is a deciduous, woodland flowering vine 25 – 30′ in length, native to the coastal plain along our southeastern states, around along the Gulf coast over to Louisiana and up the Mississippi Rivery valley to Arkansas and Kentucky. It grows in damp habitats. The forest-threatening, thuggish Asian wisterias (both Chinese and Japanese) are familiar to most southerners, but the American Wisteria is gaining in popularity because while a satisfyingly vigorous grower in full sun, this vine is guaranteed not to be invasive. The lightly fragrant, pea-like flowers bloom in fat clusters in April and May, a heavenly bright lavender against handsome foliage. It also reblooms intermittently throughout the summer. Flowers are produced on new wood, and the plant thrives when heavily pruned. It can even be grown in a large container. On top of its eye-popping beauty, American Wisteria attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and it is reported to be highly resistant to deer! Seedlings of the species require 5 to 10 years for first flowering. The ‘Amethyst Falls’ cultivar flowers reliably and early.