Wisteria floribunda (syn. 'White With Blue Eye') 'KIMONO'

All wisterias are beautiful and eye-catching for all passers-by when in bloom. Kimono variety is unique. Its English name White With Blue Eye is not commonly used, not just because it employs 4 words rather than one, but simply because Kimono sounds exotic and elegant at the same time. Just like the flowers. They look like a wedding dress put together of snowflakes with drops of mauve ink. They are pea-like, composed in 50-60 cm long racemes, and open from late April. They are followed by long seedpods with poisonous seeds which mature in late autumn or in early spring the following year.

Pinnate leaves emerge shortly after the flowers and look rather exotic. They are light green, deciduous, turn yellow in autumn, and densely cover the plant and its support so even without flowers the tree looks very attractive.

Wisteria grown as a standard tree needs a strong support for many years before its trunk hardens enough to hold the crown (about 5-6 years from transplanting). Wisterias flower mainly on short spurs along the twigs and pruning will encourage setting of flower buds so cut back long branches to 5-10 cm every spring and also during the season.

Wisteria needs moist, acid, medium fertile soil. Fertilizing is not recommended. Young plants require a sheltered place, mature plants (and those with a stem) are fully hardy to abt. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 28-10-2020