Wisteria Wisteria × valderi 'Lavender Lace'
ABOUT
The Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' is a stunning, twining vine known for its cascading clusters of fragrant flowers. This vine proudly displays numerous, long, pendulous racemes of flowers that create a breathtaking display. The blooms are a captivating shade of lavender, imbued with a gentle, intricate lace-like appearance that justifies its enchanting name 'Lavender Lace'. These delicate blooms emit a subtle, pleasant fragrance that can envelop the surrounding area, adding an olfactory delight to its visual beauty. The foliage of the 'Lavender Lace' consists of light green leaves that are pinnately compound, meaning each leaf is made up of multiple smaller leaflets arranged on either side of a central stem. This feather-like arrangement of the leaves adds a soft, airy texture to the plant, providing a lovely backdrop to the spectacular flowers. The leaves often turn a golden hue in fall, contributing further interest to the garden throughout the seasons. Typically, the 'Lavender Lace' Wisteria is grown on sturdy supports such as pergolas, trellises, or arches, where it can gracefully drape its flowering racemes for a romantic and picturesque garden display. The vine itself possesses a robust, woody nature, with stems that twine and cling, enabling it to climb and spread as it matures. The overall appearance of this plant is one of elegance and beauty, making it a cherished addition to gardens that can accommodate its growth habit.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Lavender Lace Wisteria
Common names
Wisteria × valderi 'Lavender Lace'.
ToxicityTo humans
Wisteria is known to be toxic to humans if ingested. The seeds and pods of wisteria can cause significant gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. In some cases, more severe symptoms may occur, such as headache, dizziness, and confusion. It's important to avoid eating any part of wisteria due to its toxic properties.
To pets
Wisteria is also toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. Similar to humans, the primary risk is the ingestion of seeds and pods. Symptoms of wisteria poisoning in pets can include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, confusion, and in some cases, the potential for collapse. Pets that consume any part of a wisteria plant should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Lavender
Height
20-30 feet (6-9 meters)
Spread
10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
Japan
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' provides a stunning display of cascading lavender-colored flowers that can enhance the beauty of any garden or landscape.
- Scented Flowers: The plant emits a pleasant fragrance, contributing to a sensory garden experience.
- Shade Creation: When grown over arbors or pergolas, Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' provides natural shade in outdoor living areas.
- Habitat for Wildlife: Wisteria can attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the biodiversity of the area.
- Versatility: This plant can be trained to grow on structures or as a standard, which allows it to fit into various garden designs.
- Seasonal Interest: Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' exhibits seasonal changes, including flowering in spring and leaf colors in autumn.
- Privacy Screen: When grown along fences or trellises, Wisteria can act as a privacy screen while adding visual interest.
- Longevity: Wisteria is a long-lived plant, meaning that with proper care it will continue to thrive and beautify a space for many years.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Backdrop: Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can serve as a stunning photographic backdrop for weddings and other outdoor events, offering a cascade of purple flowers as a natural set.
- Dye Production: The flowers of the Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be used to create natural dyes for fabric, yielding shades of light purple or grey.
- Horticultural Training: Gardeners can use Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' to practice techniques such as grafting and pruning, due to its vigorous growth and the necessity of keeping it well-maintained.
- Sound Barrier: When planted in a dense row, Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can act as a sound barrier, its thick foliage helping to dampen noise pollution.
- Woodworking: The mature wood of Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be harvested and used in woodworking for small projects, such as crafting decorative items or turned bowls.
- Animal Training: The sturdy vines of Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be used for training climbing pets such as certain reptiles or domestic cats, providing them with a naturalistic habitat to explore.
- Erosion Control: The robust root system of the Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be utilized for erosion control, stabilizing soil on slopes and banks in landscaped areas.
- Lattice Creation: The flexible young stems of Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be woven into lattices or trellises for supporting other plants or as stand-alone garden features.
- Shade Creation: By training Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' over pergolas or arbors, gardeners can create areas of dappled shade, ideal for seating areas or to protect shade-loving plants.
- Performing Arts: Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' can be incorporated into outdoor theater sets or dance performances, using its fluttering blossoms to add movement and visual interest to a scene.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Wisteria is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Wisteria is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Longevity: Wisteria plants can live for many decades, often seen covering buildings or trellises with their robust growth, symbolizing endurance and the passage of time.
- Immortality: In some cultures, the long life of wisteria vines suggests immortality or the desire for a long life.
- Love and Romance: With its captivating and cascading flowers, wisteria is often associated with love, sensuality, and new beginnings, making it popular in bridal bouquets and wedding decor.
- Welcoming: Wisteria's abundant flowering can symbolize friendliness and a warm reception for guests, as it often adorns the entryways of homes.
- Mystery and Beauty: The intricate and alluring blooms of wisteria can evoke a sense of mystery and ethereal beauty, representing the complexity and depth of human emotion.
- Patient Growth: Wisteria takes time to establish itself before it begins to bloom profusely, symbolizing patient endeavor and the rewards of hard work over time.
- Release of Burdens: The way wisteria blooms cascade downwards can be seen as a metaphor for letting go of worries or the past.
WaterWisteria 'Lavender Lace' prefers consistent moisture, particularly during the spring and summer growing seasons. Water this plant once a week, thoroughly soaking the soil to encourage deep root growth. During periods of drought or extreme heat, watering frequency may need to increase to twice per week. Always check the top inch of the soil for dryness before watering. An established Wisteria may need approximately 1 gallon of water per watering session, although this can vary based on soil type and environmental conditions.
LightWisteria 'Lavender Lace' thrives in full sun which means a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This plant will tolerate partial shade, but flowering is best in full sun conditions. Ideally, plant it in a location where it can receive unfiltered sunlight throughout the day to encourage vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
TemperatureWisteria 'Lavender Lace' prefers moderate temperatures and grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. While it can tolerate winter lows down to -20°F, its ideal growing temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F during the growing season. Extreme heat above 100°F may stress the plant and require additional watering to maintain its health.
PruningPruning Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' is important to control its size, shape, and to promote flowering. Prune in late winter to remove any unwanted or dead growth and to shape the vine. During the summer, trim back new growth to encourage the development of flower buds for the next season. Pruning should be done annually to maintain a manageable size and encourage healthy blooms.
CleaningAs needed
SoilWisteria, commonly referred to as Wisteria 'Lavender Lace', thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A good soil mix for this plant would consist of loam and organic compost, ensuring adequate drainage while retaining sufficient moisture to support its vigorous growth. Amending the soil with bone meal can encourage healthy root development and flower production.
RepottingWisteria 'Lavender Lace' typically doesn't require frequent repotting as it's commonly grown as a sizeable outdoor plant. If grown in containers, young wisteria may need repotting every two to three years to accommodate root growth. Mature plants are less often repotted and may be refreshed with new soil instead.
Humidity & MistingWisteria 'Lavender Lace' generally tolerates a range of humidity levels and adapts well to the average outdoor humidity where it grows best. It does not require any specific humidity adjustments, making it quite versatile in various outdoor environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Grow in bright light, prune often, and ensure large pot for roots.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, provide strong support, and prune for shape.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleThe life of Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' begins with seed germination, where the seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. After sprouting, the seedling stage is characterized by the emergence of primary leaves and the development of root systems. As it grows, the plant enters the vegetative stage, vigorously developing its woody vines and foliage. The reproductive stage follows, with the plant maturing and producing long, cascading clusters of fragrant, lavender flowers typically in late spring to early summer. After pollination, seed pods form and mature by autumn, ready to release seeds for dispersal. Over the years, the plant enters a cycle of dormancy in winter and regrowth each spring, gradually expanding its reach and becoming a mature flowering wisteria with a robust woody structure capable of living for several decades.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: The Wisteria 'Lavender Lace' is best propagated in the late winter through hardwood cuttings. This popular method involves selecting a healthy, mature piece of wisteria stem from the current or previous year's growth. The selected cutting should be about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) long and contain at least two to three nodes, where leaves attach to the stem. The bottom cut should be made just below a node, and the top cut should be made above a node to maximize the potential for root and shoot development. After the cutting is taken, the bottom end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root growth and then planted in a well-draining potting mix, making sure at least one node is below the soil surface. The pot is then kept in a warm place with indirect light and consistent moisture until roots have formed and new growth is evident, which can take several weeks.
