Aunt Dee Wisteria
Location: Prior Lake, MN
Question: Is an Aunt Dee Wisteria the same as Wisteria sinensis? When should I prune this plant and when will it bloom and for how long will the blooms last? What type of care does this need?
Answer: Aunt Dee is a Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) with a small lavender flower. (W. sinensis is Chinese wisteria.) It blooms in early summer. It needs moist, but well-drained soil and full sun. It is a fast grower, up to 10 feet in one season. Wisterias usually don't need fertilizer. Layer compost around the base and as it decomposes it will add nutrients to the soil. Prune after bloom, cutting the new growth back to three buds. This will encourage the development of new flowering wood. Japanese wisteria bloom periods are usually longer that Chinese. Hope this helps!