Can Wisteria Grow Up a Wall?

Wisteria Characteristics

• American and Japanese wisteria are clockwise-twining vines, while Chinese wisteria twines in a counterclockwise direction. American wisteria grows wild from Virginia to Illinois and south to Florida and Texas. Most varieties of wisteria grow well outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, though some may do well as far south as zone 8. They do best in areas with cold winters. Members of the pea family, wisteria produce flowers similar to sweet-pea blossoms. The fragrant flowers bloom on drooping racemes in spring. The plants grow 30-to-40 feet and require careful attention to pruning to control growth.

Wisteria and Walls

• A wisteria will happily climb on any sturdy wall that provides enough support. The plant's bright green foliage and large flowers are eye-catching against solid wood, light-colored cinderblock walls covered with smooth overlayment, rock or stucco. Wisteria's foliage may not show up as well against the deep red of brick walls or against walls built of dark-colored rocks, but these deeper colors allow the bright pastel flowers to stand out even more. Large vines like wisteria are excellent for hiding ugly walls, too.

Support Structures

• Regardless of whether the wall is smooth or rough-surfaced, additional support is crucial for the wisteria to climb successfully. Wisteria will climb anything it can twine around. Try anchoring a section of chain link fencing a few inches in front of the wall. The wisteria will eventually cover the chain link, effectively making it disappear from view. Insert metal anchors at intervals on the wall and string sturdy metal wires from anchor to anchor. The wisteria will twine around the wires to haul itself up the wall. Install wooden poles for the vine to climb vertically and provide a few wires spanning the gaps between the poles for the vine to spread horizontally. Although it takes more diligent pruning, you can design an espalier with anchors and wires on the wall and train the vine to any shape you desire.

Considerations

• A wisteria can take up to 10 years to flower, especially when you grow it from seed. "Amethyst Falls" and other varieties of American wisteria may flower in one year and are both smaller and less aggressive than Japanese or Chinese wisteria.
  Wisteria vines can become quite heavy so the supports you provide should be sturdy.