| Author | Content |
rouxcrew
Hempstead, TX
(Zone 8b)
August 20, 2008
2:33 PM Post #5442355
| I planted this three years ago and have lost the tag that identified it. This is the first time that it has bloomed, and really the first year it has done any major growing. It now is beginning to spread on the fence but shows no invasive tendencies. I cannot find any wisterias that show this color bloom. We are in zone 8b and I do nothing for this plant, no pruning, watering or fertilizing.
TIA,
Joy
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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jnana
South Florida, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 20, 2008
2:41 PM Post #5442396
| That looks like Tropical Wisteria, Millettia taiwanensis
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] |
DebinSC
Summerville, SC
(Zone 8a)
August 22, 2008
8:22 PM Post #5454372
| Rouxcrew: I believe you have milletia reticulata. (Evergreen wisteria).
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
Deb
This message was edited Aug 22, 2008 8:23 PM |
jnana
South Florida, FL
(Zone 10b)
August 22, 2008
11:13 PM Post #5455168
| The 2 are almost identical. The only difference that I was able to find is that taiwanensis is more shrubby than viney. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 23, 2008
12:21 AM Post #5455462
| I've grown them both (never at the same time though so I've never done a direct side by side comparison) but that was the only difference I ever noticed. M. taiwanensis is also a little hardier--M. reticulata is only listed to zone 9 but M. taiwanensis is listed to zone 7. In zone 8b though I could see M. reticulata surviving unless it's a really bad winter though so I think the shrubby vs viney is probably a better test. |
DebinSC
Summerville, SC
(Zone 8a)
August 23, 2008
10:22 AM Post #5456513
| Just to add doubt ( ;-> ) , I'm in zone 8a and have M. reticulata that has been in ground for 3 winters. It has thrived.
So, yep, as Ecrane said, the form is probably your best guide?
Deb |
rouxcrew
Hempstead, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 2, 2008
10:42 AM Post #5498174
| Thanks for all the answers. I now have another question. When you say "shrubby" does it mean NO vining tendencies? This one for the first two years showed no signs of climbing but this year it is winding up and across my front fencing which is about six feet tall. The majority of the plant is still shrubby however, does it climb better each year? Or am I doing some wishful thinking?
Joy
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 2, 2008
11:10 AM Post #5498301
| I think it'll still have some vining tendency, just not as much as the reticulata. Is it actually twining around the wires of the fence on its own, or are the branches just woven in between? I have M. reticulata and it definitely twines around the support, so if yours is not wrapping itself around the wires then I'd say it's more likely M. taiwanensis (but my M. taiwanensis died before it got very big so I don't know that it wouldn't twine so if it is twining then it's still hard to say) My M. reticulata also climbed to about the same extent as yours has in 6 months and it took yours until its 3rd year to do this that also may make taiwanensis more likely, but it's hard to say for sure. |
rouxcrew
Hempstead, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 2, 2008
11:06 PM Post #5501198
| Yes, it is twining all by itself. I occasionally have to redirect one but the one or two stems that are doing it have started to branch with more twining stems. The other strange thing about this plant is that it is blooming now. Everything I read said it was a spring bloomer. Maybe it is just dysfunctional. Heaven knows it gets no help from me and we have been in a drought the last couple years.
Thanks a bunch,
Joy
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ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 2, 2008
11:11 PM Post #5501228
| No, they're summer/fall bloomers. My M. reticulata has buds on it right now. You might be confusing it with the "real" wisterias that are in Wisteria genus--they mostly bloom in the spring. |
DebinSC
Summerville, SC
(Zone 8a)
September 3, 2008
8:57 PM Post #5505127
| My reticulata is in bloom now, as well. :) |
MarciaS
Greenacres, WA
September 4, 2008
1:43 AM Post #5506177
| Hi I didn't know what wisterias are till I read this. I am wondering if they can be rooted from newly cut branches I have a friend that is giving me some cuttings if I want them.
Thanks Marcia
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ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 4, 2008
9:58 AM Post #5506973
| This isn't really a wisteria--I'm assuming the plant your friend has is in Wisteria genus? These plants are in the same plant family as Wisteria and since the flowers have some resemblance they managed to get the common name evergreen wisteria, but I suspect this is not the same plant your friend is offering you cuttings of, the regular Wisterias are much more commonly grown. Here are some pics of them: [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] You might try posting in the propagation forum, I'm sure lots of people over there have rooted Wisteria cuttings--I know it's possible to do it but don't know the best way. |
plantpro53
Kemp, TX
September 4, 2008
5:04 PM Post #5508615
| Millettia taiwanensis is hardy to zone 10, reticulata to zone 8, so most likely you have reticulata. I've been in the nursery business in Texas for over 27 years and have never seen taiwanensis. Also, they are very difficult to propogate. Professional growers are very pleased if they get 20% take on their cuttings, therfore you have yourself a very valuable plant! Just go to your local garden centers and see how expensive they are, if you can even find them. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 4, 2008
9:15 PM Post #5509529
| Lazy S nursery lists M. taiwanensis as hardy to zone 7 (and while I don't always trust nurseries and plant labels, they are located in zone 7 and grow it there so I tend to believe them on this one) [HYPERLINK@www.lazyssfarm.com] (sorry, can't link directly to the Millettia, you'll have to scroll down) At the very least it's definitely hardier than zone 10--I had one survive a bad winter here in 9a in the coldest, frostiest microclimate in my yard (a week of nighttime lows in the high teens-low 20's). It came through that just fine, not even a frost-burned leaf. |
