Of the several Asian species, Japanese wisteria & Chinese wisteria became the most popular in the West - because of their profuse bloom, their large flower clusters, and the reliable fragrance and colors available in the cultivated varieties ( cultivars). Caspar Wistar (1761-1818), and in older references is sometimes spelled Wistaria. It was given to honor a Professor of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Fuji, or Noda Fuji, is the Japanese name, and Wisteria the botanical name of the genus. Our garden’s wisteria, recorded as Wisteria floribunda and probably grown from seed, was planted here over a century later. The Japanese species was introduced to the U.S. Most species of Wisteria are native to eastern Asia, but two species originated in eastern North America. Wisteria is an ancient genus in the pea family (Leguminosae), dating from the Miocene Period (7 to 26 million years ago). Because it blooms in the weeks before spring transitions to summer, the Japanese sometimes refer to it as “the plant of two seasons.” This vigorous woody vine was planted over 50 years ago on a pergola near the port village area at the north end of the garden. It flowers with long, showy clusters (known as racemes) of many small, lightly fragrant pinkish-violet flowers. United States: Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, OR and Tidal Basin, Washington D.C.Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is a late May highlight of our Seattle Japanese Garden. South Korea: Gwangju Jungang Elementary School, Dong-gu, Gwangju, (near downtown) Japan: Ashikaga Flower Park, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture (this has been dubbed the most beautiful wisteria tree in the world!) The delicate hanging blossoms and deep green foliage of wisteria make for an impressive sight for those who grow it and the countless people who view it every year.Īnd the best place to see them? Well, we went ahead and made the perfect list of where you can be whisked away by the flair and fragrance of Lady Wisteria herself.Ĭhina: The China National Botanical Garden, Haidian District, BeijingĮurope: France: Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole restaurant and La Grande Mosquee de Paris Wisteria has a rich history that spans thousands of years. Keep a patient hand through it can take several years to bloom!ĭid you know some places have made it illegal to grow wisteria? Such as the state of Wisconsin has had to regulate growing wisteria because of how invasive it can be! Not an avid outdoor gardener? Worry not! It can also be grown indoors or out as an ornamental plant-it does well both inside and outside because of its hardiness against temperature fluctuations and ability to bloom year-round if cared for properly. Other varieties are more cold-hardy than Chinese wisteria, such as Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), which can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 8, or American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) grows in zones 5 through 9. The most common type of wisteria is Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. Still, it has found new homes throughout the world. Today, wisteria grows wild on trees and fences or walls throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and mainland Asia. Napoleon planted along the roadside and around his estate, while Thomas Jefferson wrote about them extensively (and had a few growing at Monticello) they're even mentioned by Shakespeare! In ancient China, they were used as medicinal plants, while elsewhere in history, they were grown at Versailles for fragrant decor. It was named after botanist William Wister, who studied it during his travels through Japan. Its popularity spread, and it was introduced to Europe in the 1700s and was first planted in the United States in 1816. The Japanese subsequently discovered its beauty as an ornamental plant and began tending it for use in gardens there. Native to China and Japan, this deciduous vine has been cultivated for thousands of years but was first used in China to make dyes. The history of wisteria is long and illustrious
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |