Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls'

Looking for a vine to liven up your garden? ‘Amethyst Falls’ wisteria may be just what you are looking for. A superior selection of our little-known native wisteria, this deciduous vine is something special.

Unlike the more common Asian wisteria, you will be pleasantly surprised by the less aggressive nature of this American vine. Considered by some to be a dwarf wisteria, ‘Amethyst Falls’ has smaller leaves and smaller flowers than its exotic Asian relatives. Don’t be fooled, however; once this plant is established, it can climb 15 to 20 feet in a season.

Provides a heavy bloom in the late spring, and a lighter, repeat bloom in summer.  The flowers are lightly fragrant, lavender-purple, and borne in cascading 4- to 6-inch racemes in May. Due to the fact that our native wisterias bloom on new growth, vines can be moderately pruned back each winter. This characteristic helps gardeners train ‘Amethyst Falls’ onto arbors or to almost any trellis form.

An excellent choice as an alternative for the more aggressive, invasive Oriental varieties.  It will flower at a younger age, noninvasive and compact.  Perfect for containers.  

Best of all, this wisteria is both deer resistant and drought tolerant. ‘Amethyst Falls’ wisteria is an introduction from Head Ornamentals, Inc.

A host plant for the Marine Blue butterfly, Silver-spotted shipper, and Long-tailed shipper.  

Propagation can be accomplished by softwood cuttings that are taken in the spring.  This plant blooms on new wood.  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

More information on Wisteria frutescens.