Any Wisteria experts out there?!

[Teganandbarbs]

Hi there, I wondered if anyone who had experience with wisteria could answer a couple of questions.
I have an ugly chain link fence I want to cover up (it already has trellis over it but needs more). It's in a sunny spot and I want something fast growing (because I am very impatient!) & my research brought me to Wisteria Rosea, which looks lovely.

Not sure where to start and have some questions-

1. Where to buy? Seen lots online but also read the unless it's grown from cuttings (and not seed) then it won't flower for years and years? So maybe online stores not the best bet?
2. We have very chalky and rocky soil round here- would it be best to grow it in a pot instead? Would it even grow properly if kept in a pot?
3. When to plant? I am guessing I have missed the boat and should probably wait until autumn now as the internet suggests...or has anyone had success planting it in the summer anyway?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice!

Not an expert, but I’ve got mine in a huge pot. I bought it in flower, as recommended by experts. You then know that it will flower, sometimes they just don’t! So you will be able to get one now, the flowers are probably facing, but don’t let that put you off.
As flowering plants, they are grafted onto a root stock, that’s why growing from seed is not successful. Mine is in regular compost, which I feed from spring to autumn. Pruning is required to encourage flowering and there are lots of u tube videos to help.

*fading

I’ve got a wisteria(two actually) planted on a heavy duty trellis. I also planted a clematis (Montana?). The wisteria has taken quite a few years to do its thing, but is looking lovely now.

The clematis was up and running pretty quickly and is quite rampant. I’m probably now at the stage of cutting the clematis back right back to give the wisteria a chance to show off more.

I haven’t noticed any problems ref rootstock. But one of them flowers before the leaves come (I didn’t know they even did that). I did plant a third one later, but it never took. They are all in soil that was originally turf. I don’t think it’s very fertile, and I haven’t done a lot to enrich it. Maybe that’s why it took so long to flourish? We do have very chalky soil.

Thank you so much both of you, that is incredibly useful. Buying one already in flower sounds like a very good idea, I'd hate to spend a lot of money on one to realise later that it won't flower! I imagine that going in person to a nursery/garden centre would be the best bet then. Thank you again- I am a real novice so very grateful for the advice!

I bought mine from Aldi for £7.99 a couple of years ago, it was flowering really well until the bloody puppy bit through it. It hasn't flowered this year but suspect it will next.

I'd read the opposite - that it's better to buy non flowering. I duly bought two sticks from the local garden center for £19.99 each. Planted them in April, they flowered in May, and they're now growing well.

Go to a good plant nursery or garden centre - you will probably pay around £20 for a good plant but they do take a while to get going. You could plant a rambling rose - they normally grow faster and bigger than a climber.

wisteria does grow quite big eventually.

Thanks so much. A trip to a good garden centre definitely in order (I'll stop looking at online sellers!).
Everyone's answers have been so encouraging, am very grateful for the replies.
@bloodywhitecat @pumpkinmash good to hear your experiences, fingers crossed I'll have the same luck :)
@bilbodog will definitely look at the roses too, thanks for the tip!

Wisteria flowers best when it’s roots are restricted. If your soil is poor, that’s probably a good thing!

@Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight that gives me a lot of hope...thanks so much!

Watching with interest, we have a white one one the front of house. I’m a terrible gardener but want to know how to prune to get more flower than foliage? We get a few flowers but a lot of green and I see these AMAZING ones dripping with flowers in other gardens!

@Bobbins36 they are beautiful aren't they! Good luck with yours.

I've just got one, I bought a wisteria umbrella trellis things so it will hopefully grow up through it and shower down again ... hopefully!
My mum loved them and as a child she planted one near my bedroom, it grew into the tree next to my window, it was beautiful

www.rhs.org.uk/videos/advice/pruning-wisteria

check this out for pruning

There are two types of Wisteria, Japanese Floribunda and Chinese Sinensis. The Japanese flowers as the leaves are just about to come out. The Chinese one has flowers at the same time as the leaves. That’s the one I have.
BTW, the advice about buying in flower was from Monty Don.

@custardbear ooo nice- those umbrella trellises look lovely!!
@bilbodog thank you so much, much appreciated.
@Beebumble2 thank you for all this info...I have learnt so much from this thread!

Sorry to hijack, but can anyone tell me if the roots are invasive if you plant near a house. I would like to train one up my house but I don’t want to disturb the foundations.

@pilates I had been wondering this too!

I dont think so as ive known many houses have them, very old ones as well as modern ones.

@pilates I inherited a couple of established wisteria when I bought my house last year. I think they've been here for a good 7/8 years and so far no issues with foundations. It's planted right against the house with patio around too. x

Thank you OP for the thread too! I am a complete novice and want to learn more about wisteria.
I hope you find some beautiful ones at whichever garden centre you head to. X

Thank you for starting the thread op. We gained a wisteria when we bought our house and I do try to keep it under control, but will read the pruning link above. One thing I am concerned with ours is the leaves are quite pale green not the deep green I see most are. It has purple flowers and the flowers come out just as the leaves do. I thought they liked poor soil but wondered if it maybe needed a feed or liquid seaweed or something. Any suggestions?

@JustGettingReady wow...that is beautiful!!! The look I am dreaming of!!

Wisteria came up as a question on one of the recent ‘Ask the experts’ Q&A spots on the Chelsea 2022 coverage. They recommended buying one in flower.