Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Amethyst Falls


Chinese Evergreen Wisteria
Millettia taiwanensis ‘Amethyst Falls’


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I really love this vine. I’ve always enjoyed the beautiful blooms on wisteria, but I was reluctant to plant it in my garden. The old fashioned American variety is such a vigorous grower and once it gets started it’s nearly impossible to get rid of if you change your mind. That’s not the case with this Chinese Evergreen Wisteria. It’s a very well behaved vine and at full maturity only reaches between 12 to 15 feet in length.

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The blooms are beautiful deep purple with a bright yellow stripe in the center. My only complaint about them is they don’t seem to last nearly as long as the more common varieties of wisteria. The foliage a shiny, leathery texture and is considered evergreen, but in my zone it does lose its leaves in the winter time.

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All the information I’ve ever read on this vine says it blooms in late summer or early fall. Mine has always bloomed around the first of June. This year it’s putting on a particularly nice display… certainly the best since it’s been planted.

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I understand it’s very easy to grow from seed, but mine vine has yet to produce any of them. As slow growing as it is I could only imagine how long it would take to grow from seed. I’m not a very patient gardener and I’m not sure I could wait that long. I would like to see what the seed pods look like though.

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All in all I thought this was the perfect choice of vines for this little screen I designed behind the bench. This is the fourth year I’ve had this vine in my garden and I’m really happy with the way it’s turned out. By next summer this screen should be completely covered and I would also think the vine will be about as large as it’s going to get. Now, if I could only locate that illusive Yellow Butterfly vine I’ve been trying to find.

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16 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Darla! Now that I have more shade for protection I need to get my evergreens back in the planters.

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  2. This is a great wisteria. Yours is much more purple than mine, which is more blue. Great photos!

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    1. Phillip the others I've seen online are much more red. I do like the deep purple.

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  3. Randy, I saw it in Texas for the first time. It isn't hardy where I live, but gosh, you've captured the true color of the blooms. Luscious!~~Dee

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  4. One son and his wife (the recent newlyweds) are growing this on their arbor and it is lovely. I really love what you've done with the backdrop/screen. Wonderful design!

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    1. Freda,
      I bet they enjoy it. I just wish the blooms lasted a little longer. They seem to fall off so quickly. Maybe its just me. I do hate to see them go when they do. I wonder if there is a way to force a rebloom. Hmmmmm...

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  5. Love what you have done with area. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Meta,
      Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you decided to leave a comment. Hope to see you again!

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  6. Randy,
    What a most charming wisteria (note to self, find Millettia taiwanensis ‘Amethyst Falls”). But then if I were to find it I would have to see about getting you to come up and create a magical setting for it, such as the one you have pictured. Beautiful !!! - gary

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    1. Awwwww, thanks Gary! It's such a tame wisteria. Can you believe my neighbor found that giant sun on the side of the road in a trash pile? She said she thought I might want it. It was perfect for that screen.

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  7. The last picture of the wisteria, sun, and bench look so nice. And a free sun! Bonus!
    Could you put something in the urns? Or is it because of no drainage holes.
    And it is a beautiful Wisteria. I'm sure it's probably not hardy up here.

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    1. Wayne,
      I use to have evergreens in the urns and they looked gorgeous! Two years ago the western light just fried them to bits on one side! I'm getting some more, but they're kind of expensive down here so I had to wait to get enough shade to protect them. The corkscrew willow is large enough now to keep the afternoon sun off of them so I'll replace them when I get the money. I just didn't do anything with ANY of the containers or hanging baskets this year. :0)Check out the photos below:

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/33548884@N08/3338991251/

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/33548884@N08/4929412260/

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  8. LOVE IT! Now get you something in those urns.

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    1. Skeeter,
      I'm thinking I might go a different route with those urns. If I do what I'm thinking of I'll write a post about it. :0)

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