Wisteria sinensis Blue Line

Wisteria sinensis 'Blue Line' is a variety of Chinese wisteria that stands out with its bluish flowering and beautifully coppery spring shoots. Its clusters of flowers, with a bluer and cooler shade than those of the species, barely precede the emergence of young leaves. Produced profusely in early spring, they bloom again in summer among the foliage. This is a climbing plant with great development, whose long voluble stems wrap around their support. Like all Chinese wisterias, its flowering is highly fragrant and honey-producing. It is a sublime climber for shading a patio.

Wisteria sinensis is a fast-growing climbing plant belonging to the large Fabaceae family. It is native to the humid forests of China, and was introduced to Europe in 1816. Its long voluble stems, which can reach 10m (33ft) in length, lignify with age. Sometimes a bit slow to establish, it is a robust plant that is perfectly resistant to cold. It is not demanding regarding soil (although it fears excessive active limestone), and can grow in poor and dry soils in summer if they are deep.

The 'Blue Line' variety has retained the vigour of its ancestor. Its stems naturally turn around supports in an anti-clockwise direction. The growth of new, flexible, and villous shoots is very fast, reaching several metres in a season in moist soil. The main flowering of this variety takes place in April-May, more or less early depending on the climate. It develops on almost bare branches located not far from the lignified main stems. It bears clusters of mauve-blue papilionaceous flowers, 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long. They spread a sweet fragrance in calm weather. They open from the base to the tip of the cluster. The plant reblooms slightly during summer. The young leaves, with a coppery-pink bronze colour, appear towards the end of the flowering and then turn a light green. They are 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) long and divided into numerous rounded leaflets, giving the foliage a light appearance. Before falling in autumn, they turn golden-yellow. Chinese wisteria can live for more than 50 years.

'Blue Line' is the perfect plant to adorn facades and pergolas with its elegant foliage, extraordinary flowering, and pod fruiting at the end of the season. It is also particularly useful for dressing up a wall or covering an unsightly fence. This vigorous plant easily wraps around a fence or trellis, and tends to suffocate surrounding plants. Plant it on its own, in full sun (or partial shade in hot climates). Alternatively, plant it with honeysuckles as powerful as itself, such as Lonicera x delavayi, which is evergreen with a fragrant yellow summer flowering.

However, be patient! The first flowers may not appear until after 2 to 3 years, sometimes longer depending on growing conditions.