Also known as the Texas wisteria or the Kentucky wisteria, the American wisteria is from the pea family of plants. It is native to the United States and is botanically known as Wisteria frutescens.
American Wisteria Description
Growing 25 to 30 feet long, this woody vine has dark green leaves and clusters of flowers. Leaves are shiny and compound, opposite on the leaf stem. The flowers are large, lilac or blue-purple in color, and have a wonderful scent. There will be a bean-like pod, brown, that will go through the winter. Bloom season is May through June. There is a cultivar, ‘Nivea’, that can have white flowers.
Growing Guide
This plant works in any lighting, from full sun to full shade, but prefers a rich acidic to neutral soil. It will tolerate seasonal flooding but not alkaline soils, where it will be chlorotic. Propagate by softwood cuttings and by seed. Seed will take a few years to bloom.
Distribution
States which American wisteria is found include Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is seen in river banks, thickets, and moist woods.
Wildlife Attracted
This particular plant is a larval host to the Marine Blue butterfly. Skipper butterflies also like to be around it. It makes for a great addition to butterfly gardens for this reason.
Source: NPIN