Wisteria floribunda Lawrence

The Wisteria floribunda Lawrence is perhaps the best variety of Japanese wisteria, and the most spectacular of wisterias with purple flowers. It blooms with incredible generosity in May-June, in long clusters loaded with two-tone purple-blue flowers, almost hiding its young leaves. The floribunda species is characterised by particularly long flower clusters, with a slight honey fragrance. But also by its voluble stems that twist clockwise around their support, unlike those of its Chinese cousin. Wisterias transform grids, fences, facades, pergolas, and arbors in spring. Plant wisterias, they deserve it for their extraordinary beauty, their immense vigor, their very accommodating nature, and their excellent resistance to the coldest temperatures.

The Japanese wisteria, also known as Wisteria floribunda in Latin, is a climbing plant with large habit and fast growth, belonging to the large family of Fabaceae, just like clover, alfalfa, or lupins. It originates from Japanese forests and was introduced to Europe in the mid-19th century. Its long voluble stems, which can reach a length of 10m (33ft), lignify with age. Sometimes a bit slow to establish, it is a robust plant, perfectly resistant to cold, not very demanding in terms of soil (although it fears excessive active limestone), capable of growing in poor and dry soils in summer if they are deep. Its roots are deep and trailing.

The 'Lawrence' variety, repeatedly awarded (including in England by the Royal Horticultural Society) stands out with its increased floribundity from a young age and its more distinctly bicoloured flowers. Its stems can easily reach 9m (29ft) in length and spontaneously wrap around supports. The growth of new shoots is very rapid, reaching several metres in a single season in cool soil. The flowering takes place after the Chinese wisterias, in May-June, on young grafted plants. It develops on already foliated branches located near the lignified main stems. It takes the form of pendulous clusters of papilionaceous flowers, 50cm (20in) long, with up to 170 flowers each, less fragrant than those of the Chinese wisteria, but more numerous and remarkably arranged on the foliage. Each flower, pale mauve in colour, is enhanced by wings and a more violet keel, as well as a small yellow-green spot. They open successively, from the base to the tip of the cluster. The flowers are followed by pendulous, flat and green pods, swollen at the seed, turning brown when ripe. The young bronze-coloured leaves appear before the flowering and then turn a light green colour. They are 20-30cm (8-12in) long and divided into 13-19 ovate leaflets, giving the foliage a light appearance. Before falling in autumn, the leaves take on a beautiful golden colour. Very durable, the 'Lawrence' Wisteria can live for more than 50 years. Its flowering is nectariferous and melliferous.

The Japanese Wisteria 'Lawrence' is a variety that is as spectacular as it is easy to care for. This lively plant often survives in old gardens left to themselves by the person who planted it. It is particularly useful for dressing up a wall, a facade, or covering an unsightly fence. It wraps itself around a fence or trellis without restraint if left to its own devices and tends to suffocate surrounding plants. Choose a solitary location for it, in full sun or partial shade in hot climates. Or associate it with other vines as powerful as it, such as the evergreen and fragrant yellow-flowered Lonicera (x) delavayi or the thornless Banksia Rose 'Alba Plena' covered in small white pompoms in May. The floribunda wisteria also gets along very well with the Clematis montana and trumpet vines, which take over in summer.

However, be patient: the first flowering of the Wisteria may not appear until 2 to 3 years, depending on the growing conditions.