Plant a Japanese or Chinese wisteria in your landscape and then stand back! You will literally spend the rest of your life trying to control its growth. However, plant an Amethyst Falls wisteria, an improved cultivar of our native American wisteria, and you will be pleasantly surprised at the less aggressive nature of this plant, compared to its Asian cousins. Although the vine will climb 20 to 30 feet, it’s less vigorous, less invasive and easier to manage than its Asian relatives.

While the Asian types of wisteria may take 10 years or more to begin flowering, Amethyst Falls Wisteria begins flowering at one year of age. Flowering occurs on new growth of the season and is about two weeks later than that of the Asian types (late April to early May in mid-Georgia), so late-winter frosts seldom affect flowering. If lightly trimmed after flowering, new shoots will produce a second flush of blooms in the summer.

Considered by some to be a dwarf wisteria, Amethyst Falls has smaller leaves and flowers than the Asian types. Flowers are fragrant, lavender-blue and borne in 2- to 4-inch-long racemes that cascade from the foliage like a waterfall - hence the name “Amethyst Falls.”

Deer and drought tolerance are other outstanding attributes that earned Amethyst Falls Wisteria a Gold Medal award in 2006. It’s a perfect choice for pergolas, trellises or fences. It also can be trained as a free-standing wisteria tree form.

Prune Amethyst Falls Wisteria in late winter, if necessary, to shape the plant and remove undesirable growth. Then trim lightly again after the first flush of bloom to encourage branching and repeat blooms. A late-winter application of a complete fertilizer, such as 16-4-8, should be sufficient for the year.