what are those pretty trees that sometimes grow up houses?

[Fillyjonk]

OK I know that is a crap description. I don't mean a climbing plant, this tree(?) has bark and sucklike but seems to grow up the house.

any thoughts? And do they grow in pots? and I take it they'd need heavy duty support?

Wistaria

I don't know about the planting though - I think they are planted in the ground, but presumably you have to do something to protect the foundations of your house from the creeping roots.

wisteria? have dripping purple flowers. take a good few years to establish.

you need wires on the house to tie the new growth into - can get nail type things with eyes in that you hammer into mortar between bricks. they're not v vigorous afaik, i don't think you need to worry about the roots doing any damage. don't plant immediately next to the wall cos it'll be too dry, plant at least a foot away and lean in towards the house.

Wisteria, once established, can be very vigorous - and needs to be pruned in August to encourage flowering the next year - my parent's had one up their house which took about 5 yrs to get going - but then would put about 2m grown from each of the buds - and when its large, that's a lot of pruning to come off! Trunk was about 6 - 8" across after 15yrs - and yes, this was planted well away from house - better water supply etc.

ah thank you. wisteria. they are lovely.

I am going to have to plant in a pot though it could be a big one. Would that be ok?

I've seen wisteria in pots - sometimes gets reasonable size in one - yes, larger the better - but you will have to ensure that it does get sufficient water.

I've planted one in a pot in the front of my house. There were lots of different types in the garden centre so I picked one it said was suitable for pots. Its in the shade too so I am probably doomed, but keeping my fingers crossed.

Wisteria - and they smell DIVINE!! I would love one - I have heard you can get dwarf wisteria and ones that can grow in a pot and trained to be a standard (i.e like a lollipop ) - just done a google search and not come up with a great deal - though you may have better luck.

Prune after flowering in may and you will get second flowers in August, then prune hard in winter.

seven years until you get the first flowers!

make sure you buy a GRAFTED one - not one grown from seed or you will have to wait for ages for flowers. ask at the nursery or get one that's already in flower.

In nature Wisteria are huge plants growing right to the top of very tall trees. if you keep it in a pot it will be ok but you will have to care for it lots and lots - feed it, prune it carefully etc. You can get something like an umbrella skeleton to train it over, can't find them on teh internet at the moment though

Anna8888 - (or any body else )-do you happen to know if it is Wisteria that grows in the square outside the Francois Xavier church - (nearish the Eifle Tower) in the 7th? I've spent the last 10 years wondering.

that thing about pruning is all bolleux imo
i am a wisteria fanatica and move house a lot

I move them - buy new etc etc

they do not take 7 years to flower and although do not take kindly to being moved - so far (touch wood) i find them really easy and hardy

the flowers are really beautiful i agree but for me the appeal is the leaves

the light acid green of spring gives way to a deeper summer green but the lobed leaves when blown by a warm summer wind are one of lifes great beauties

have planted one already this year and hope there will be more