Amethyst Falls American Wisteria

Amethyst Falls American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls') is the tidy, well-behaved wisteria for gardens that cannot house a monster. It is far less vigorous than the Asian wisterias, reaching about 4m, and it flowers at a young age on new growth with shorter, lilac-purple racemes that make it suitable for smaller gardens and large pots.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers young. It blooms on new growth, so you do not wait many years for a first display.
• Manageable size. At about 4m it suits a small pergola, an arch or a trellis without taking over the house.
• Lilac-purple racemes. The shorter clusters of 10 to 15cm are lightly fragrant and often followed by a lighter second flush.
• Pot friendly. A large container with a sturdy support makes a good patio plant.
• Frost hardy. It copes with cold winters and warmer temperate summers alike.

Where it works best

Small pergolas and arches. Its modest vigour suits lightweight timber structures. Plant 2.5m apart along a pergola.

Trellis and fences. Train it along wires on a sunny fence in a courtyard.

Large pots. Choose a pot of 50cm or more with an obelisk or frame for support, and feed regularly.

Growing Amethyst Falls in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the best flowering. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates, and does reasonably in subtropical gardens. It is not suited to the tropics.

Soil. Fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Go light on nitrogen.

Water and feed. Water deeply through the first summers and regularly in pots. A potash fertiliser after flowering encourages more bloom.

Pruning. Trim in late winter to tidy and shape, cutting side shoots back to a few buds. Because it flowers on new growth, light summer pruning is also fine. All parts of wisteria are toxic if eaten, especially the seeds and pods, so it is not a plant for gardens where children or pets chew what they find.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Amethyst Falls in 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 400mm pots, the largest being advanced stock for a quicker display. The smaller sizes need a season of growth and then flower early. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Wisteria care and the native alternative
• Browse climbers
• Plants for pots

Common questions

How is it different from Chinese wisteria?

American wisteria is much less vigorous, flowers young on new growth and has shorter racemes.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. A large pot, regular feeding and a strong support suit it.

Is it toxic?

Yes. As with all wisteria, the seeds and pods are toxic if eaten.