Collection of 2 compact Wisterias

A wonderful duo of Japanese Wisterias, aptly named graceful Wisterias. It brings together two lovely forms of Wisteria venusta, which is less imposing than its cousin, the Chinese Wisteria: the first with pale pink flowers, and the other with mauve-blue flowers. Their shorter clusters, perfectly coordinated in pastel shades, blend together with a delicate floral scent, in spring on barely leafy branches, and sometimes again in late summer, hidden in the foliage. Wisterias spontaneously and eagerly wrap their long twining stems around trellaces, fences, pergolas, and arbours. These are more suitable for small gardens and can also be planted in large containers on the terrace.

This duo consists of a Japanese Pink Wisteria plant (variety Rosea) and an Okayama Wisteria plant.

The Japanese Wisteria, or silky Wisteria, Wisteria venusta (synonym Wisteria brachybotrys) in Latin, is a vigorous climbing plant with rapid growth that won't reach the gigantic size of the Chinese Wisteria. It belongs, like its cousin, to the large family of Fabaceae, along with clover, alfalfa, and lupines. It is native to Japan and China. Its long twining stems, which can reach a length of 5 metres (16 feet), become lignified with age. Sometimes a bit slow to establish, it is a robust plant, perfectly resistant to cold, not very demanding in terms of soil (although it does not tolerate limestone), and capable of growing in poor and dry soils in summer if they are deep.

The stems of the Japanese Wisteria naturally turn clockwise around supports, unlike those of its cousin Wisteria sinensis, which turn counterclockwise. The growth of new shoots is very fast, around 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet) in one season in moist soil. The main flowering occurs in April-May, earlier or later depending on the climate, on fairly young grafted plants. It develops on barely leafy branches located near the lignified main stems. Short, thick, cone-shaped clusters, densely filled with butterfly-like flowers, measuring 20cm (8in) in length, emit a quite pronounced fragrance depending on the varieties, in calm weather. They open from the base to the tip of the cluster. The plant blooms again during late summer, although more timidly. The flowers are followed by pendulous, velvety, flat green pods that turn brown when ripe. The young bronze leaves appear at the same time as the flowering and then turn a light green colour. They are 20 to 35cm (8 to 14in) long and divided into 9 to 11 rounded and slightly velvety leaflets, giving the foliage a lush yet light appearance. Very long-lasting, the silky Wisteria can live for more than 50 years. Its flowering is nectar-rich. The deciduous foliage turns a beautiful yellow colour in autumn before falling.

Wisteria is the epitome of romantic plants. A queen in the kingdom of climbing plants, capable of enhancing a facade or structure, no matter how modest. When two varieties of Wisteria meet and intertwine, the spectacle becomes almost unreal. Particularly useful for covering a wall or hiding an unsightly fence, this duo easily wraps around a fence, porch, or trellis. These two Wisterias may tend to suffocate nearby plants. It is best to plant them in a solitary location, in full sun or partial shade in warm climates. Or, if you have enough space, associate them with vigorous honeysuckles, such as Lonicera x delavayi, which is evergreen and has fragrant yellow summer flowers, or with a Montana Clematis Tetrarose.

However, be patient: the first flowering of the Wisteria may not appear for 2 to 3 years, depending on the growing conditions.