Few plants are more striking in a garden than a mature Wisteria vine in full bloom. The long trailing clusters of lilac-blue flowers are produced in such abundance, and are so intensely & sweetly fragrant, that they become the garden’s highlight. There is just something intoxicatingly romantic about an arbor draped in gorgeous, fragrant Wisteria flowers.

‘Blue Moon’ is a cultivar of Wisteria macrostachya, a North American native species also known as Kentucky Wisteria. As such, there are none of the invasiveness concerns that accompany the Asian Wisteria (W. sinensis & W. floribunda).

‘Blue Moon’ was selected for extreme cold hardiness and repeat bloom cycles.  It is the most cold tolerant of the Wisteria, hardy to USDA Zone 3 and able to easily withstand our Wisconsin winters. It also has an extended bloom period, often re-blooming two or even three times in a single season. The pleasantly aromatic flowers are a favorite of pollinators.

This is not a plant for a 6’ trellis! Due to its rapid and vigorous growth Wisteria ‘Blue Moon’ will need a sturdy, well-anchored structure to climb. Provide it with a durable structure to climb on and at least 5 hours of daily sun and you will be rewarded with a spectacularly beautiful floral display for years to come.

• Mature height: Will climb 15’-25’
• Mature spread: Will spread across the top of a sturdy pergola, arbor or fence
• Growth form: Rambling, twining woody vine
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 3, very cold hardy
• Flowers: Long racemes of showy, highly perfumed lavender-blue, pea-like flowers. ‘Blue Moon’ frequently blooms several times throughout the summer.
• Foliage: Green compound foliage
• Light requirement: Full Sun to Light Shade
• Water Requirements: Adaptable to a range of soil conditions.
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Maintenance: Low maintenance. Avoid pruning and fertilizing, as both can encourage vegetative growth at the expense of blooms.
• Especially valuable for:
o Absolutely magnificent draping over a sturdy pergola or arbor
o Fragrance
o Pollinators
o Native parentage

By Zannah Crowe