Wisteria Wisteria × formosa 'Caroline'

Water

The Caroline Wisteria requires regular watering, especially during the growing season. It's important to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water this plant once a week with about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water, depending on weather conditions. During hot, dry spells, you may need to water twice a week. During winter, reduce watering to every two to three weeks or when the soil is dry to the touch, as the plant is dormant during this time.

Light

Caroline Wisteria thrives in full sun to partial shade, so the best spot for this plant is where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. If you're planting it against a structure, south-facing or west-facing aspects are ideal. However, make sure it also gets some dappled shade during the hottest part of the day to protect it from scorching.

Temperature

Caroline Wisteria is hardy and can survive in a range of temperatures, but it grows best when daytime temperatures are between 65°F and 85°F. It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to around 20°F and maximum temperatures up to approximately 100°F, but extreme temperatures can cause stress to the plant.

Pruning

Pruning is vital for controlling Caroline Wisteria's size and encouraging blooming. Prune twice a year, cutting back the current year's growth to 6 inches during late summer and then tidying up in mid-winter. The best time for major pruning is in late winter before growth begins, to shape the plant and remove any unwanted or dead growth.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

The Carolina Wisteria prefers fertile, moist, but well-draining soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. A balanced mix of loam, peat, and coarse sand can promote healthy growth. Additionally, incorporating organic matter such as compost can enhance soil fertility.

Repotting

Carolina Wisteria, being a vigorous climbing shrub, does not commonly require repotting as a garden plant; it is typically planted in-ground. In pots, young plants may need repotting every 2-3 years, but mature plants are best left undisturbed.

Humidity & Misting

Carolina Wisteria thrives in outdoor conditions where natural humidity levels are adequate for growth. The plant is adaptable but does not require any specific high humidity conditions.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Ensure strong support, ample light, prune regularly.

• Outdoor

  Full sun, strong support, well-draining soil, regular pruning.

• Hardiness zone

  5-9 USDA

Life cycle

Wisteria × formosa 'Caroline' (also known as Caroline Chinese Wisteria) begins its life as a seed, which germinates in suitable conditions of warmth and moisture to produce a small seedling. As the seedling matures, it develops an extensive root system and a climbing or trailing stem that seeks support structures to grow upon. The vine enters a vegetative stage, during which it produces compound leaves and rapidly increases in size and length, able to grow quite large and require sturdy support. After a few years of growth, Caroline Chinese Wisteria reaches reproductive maturity and starts to produce fragrant blue-violet flowers in hanging clusters every spring. Following pollination, typically by bees, the flowers develop into elongated seed pods, which mature by late summer or autumn, then dry and release their seeds to complete the cycle. Caroline Chinese Wisteria can live for several decades, continuing to grow and bloom annually with proper care and pruning to manage its size and vigor.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• The best time to propagate the Wisteria, with the variety 'Caroline' often being no exception, is during late winter to early spring before the plant breaks dormancy, or in late summer after flowering, when the plant is still active. The most popular method of its propagation is via softwood cuttings. This involves taking a cutting of about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) from a healthy section of the plant's current year's growth, making sure there are at least two or three nodes present. The leaves near the bottom of the cutting should be removed, and the base dipped in a rooting hormone to encourage root development. The cutting is then planted in a well-draining potting mix and kept moist. It's important to provide a humid environment for the cutting, which can be achieved by covering the pot with a plastic bag or placing it in a propagator. After a few weeks, roots will develop, and once they are sturdy, the new plant can be acclimated to outdoor conditions and transplanted to its final location.