January Plant of the month…..Wisteria.

This gorgeous deciduous climber produces cascades of fragrant mauve or white flowers in May or June, valuable autumn colour and attractive pea-like seed pods. It’s a vigorous plant that needs regular pruning and training to keep it in check and flowering well, but is well worth the effort. It looks amazing in full bloom across the front of a house, draping over a pergola or scrambling along a sunny wall. 

The name Wisteria is given to four species of woody twining vines that are native to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, southern Canada, the Eastern United States, and north of Iran. They were later introduced to France, Germany and various other countries in Europe.

Most wisterias begin flowering within three to four years of planting. The two most commonly grown in the UK are Wisteria sinensis which grows in an anticlockwise direction and Wisteria floribunda which grows in a clockwise direction.

Wisteria plants have incredibly strong and woody stems and, in time, the trunks can become as thick as small tree trunks – it's not a plant for a delicate trellis. It is possible to grow wisteria plants in a pot but only if you’re growing it as a standard tree and pruning it regularly to maintain its form – this is a very high maintenance option. Wisteria like moist but well-drained soil, ideally in a south- or west-facing direction. A mature wisteria can spread up to 20m (66ft) against a wall.

Wisteria is January’s plant of the month because it needs pruning twice a year – in the dormant season from November to February and again in summer after flowering. For the first few years give your attention to training the plant into the support. This involves pruning very low branches out, training in strong side shoots and cutting back side shoots to five buds in early August.

By pruning in winter as well as summer, you will encourage the development of short spurs that carry the flowers in spring. This is the time to remove any dead or damaged branches, tie in new growth and cut back the remaining long wispy stems to just two or three buds.

Gardener’s World suggests growing one of these varieties:

• Wisteria sinensis – blue flowers in May or June before the foliage. Very fragrant. Reaches a height of 9m.

• Wisteria floribunda ‘Multijuga’ – of all the wisterias this has the longest pendants of flowers. Lilac flowers that appear with the leaves in June. Reaches a height of 9m

• Wisteria floribunda ‘Kuchi-beni’ – mauve-pink flowers in June with the foliage. Floribunda types are not as vigorous as others. Reaches 8m in height

• Wisteria floribunda ‘Domino’ – suitable where space is limited. Blue flowers in May or June with the foliage. Reaches a height of 6m

• Wisteria sinensis ‘Alba’ – white flowers, often before the foliage. Reaches a height of 9m