Summer Cascade™ Wisteria

One of the most enviable things about gardening warmer zones is the ability to grow wisteria. Climbing arbors and fences, a wisteria vine makes a heart–melting display with tumbling tresses of stunning blooms. However, we've got good news. This breakthrough cultivar of a native wisteria, bred at the University of Minnesota, is the hardiest variety we've ever found. It thrives all the way up through zone 4, putting wisteria in reach for a lot more gardeners. The tresses are around a foot long, and bloom in charming pastels. They're accompanied by a delightful fragrance that permeates the garden on sunny afternoons. Summer Cascade creates this picturesque floral display up to three times per year. Then, the blooms give way to intricate seed pods that keep the interest going through summer. You will have to be deliberate about where you grow it—once established, it covers a trellis or arbor quickly. And it's not a light vine, be sure your structure can hold woody vines. Pruning will not only keep its size where you want it, but also encourage more of those stunning blooms. It is a powerful grower, but this is not the invasive form of wisteria. It is in the much better behaved macrostachya species. Wisteria macrostachya 'Betty Matthews'