Wisteria

Offsite Assessment Report

2008 – 2012

Trials Office The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 1

RHS Trial of Wisteria

Introduction to Wisteria Wisteria is a genus of about 10 species of twinning, woody deciduous climbers. They generally inhabit moist woodland and stream banks in China, Korea, Japan and central and southern USA. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, fragrant flowers and can be trained against a wall, into a tree, over an arch or pergola or as a free standing half standard. Objectives The objectives of the trial were:

To identify the best and most distinctive cultivars and recommend the Award of Garden Merit

To compare established and new cultivars Judging Plants were assessed during the flowering periods of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Entries There were 59 plants assessed as part of the collection held by Mr C Lane. Cultivation All plants were grown as standards, supported by a post.

Plants Receiving AGMs During Trial The following are the plants thought to fulfil the Award of Garden Merit criteria during the trial and to be worthy of receiving the award. The criteria which a plant needs to fulfil in order to receive the award are:

excellent for ordinary garden use

available

reasonably resistant to pests and diseases

of good constitution

essentially stable in form and colour

reasonably easy to grow Hardiness Ratings are as follows: H5 – Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Temperature range -15 to -10ºC

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 2

Plants Awarded AGM

W. sinensis 'Jako' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No.1, 2 & 3 ] Votes 4-0 Flower: Late spring – early summer Height: 9m Vigorous deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate leaves of 9-13 elliptic or ovate leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, creamy-white flowers produced in dense, pendant racemes 20-25cm in length. Often followed by bean-like seed pods. “Makes wonderful standard. Free flowering.”

W. sinensis 'Prolific' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 6 & 9 ] Votes 12-0 Flower: Late spring – early summer Height: 9m Vigorous deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate leaves of 9-13 elliptic or ovate leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, soft blue-violet flowers produced in dense, pendant racemes 25-30cm in length. Often followed by bean-like seed pods. Also known as ‘Blue Sapphire’, ‘Consequa’ & ‘Oosthoek’s Variety’. “Very reliable. Tremendous plant. Very good scent.”

W. sinensis 'Amethyst' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 7, 8 & 14] Votes 12-0 Flower: Late spring – early summer Height: 9m Vigorous deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate leaves, bronze when young, of 9-13 elliptic or ovate leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, violet-blue flowers produced in dense, pendant racemes 20-25+cm in length. Often followed by bean-like seed pods. “Very floriferous.”

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 3

W. floribunda 'Royal Purple' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 15, 39 & 40] Votes 15-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, deep violet flowers in pendant racemes 27-40+cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. Flowers as a young plant. “Very distinct. Lovely, long racemes.”

W. 'Burford' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No.17] Votes 15-0 Vigorous, deciduous climber. Pinnate leaves of 9-13 ovate to lance-shaped leaves. Pea-like lilac-blue flowers produced in racemes 40-45cm in length. Often followed by velvety bean-like seed pods. “Excellent. Superb.”

W. brachybotrys 'Shiro Kapitan' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 29] Votes 12-0 Flower: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate, softly hairy leaves of 9-13 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like white flowers produced in racemes 10-15cm in length. Often followed by velvety bean-like seed pods. “Superb. Strong growing. Large white florets.”

W. brachybotrys 'Showa Beni' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No.30 & 31] Votes 15-0 Flower: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate, softly hairy leaves of 9-13 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like pink flowers produced in racemes 10-15cm in length. Often followed by velvety bean-like seed pods. Also known as ‘Pink Chiffon’. “Beautiful. Looking good for a long time.”

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 4

W. brachybotrys 'Okayama' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 34, 35 & 37] Votes 8-0 Flower: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines anticlockwise. Pinnate, softly hairy leaves of 9-13 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets, bronze when young. Pea-like, pale violet-blue flowers produced in racemes 10-15cm in length. Often followed by velvety bean-like seed pods. “Rich violet buds. Highly scented.”

W. floribunda 'Lawrence' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 45 & 46] Votes 15-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like, soft lilac-blue fragrant flowers in pendant racemes 40-60cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. “Wonderful. Great plant.”

W. floribunda 'Domino' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 51] Votes 12-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like, bright lilac-blue fragrant flowers in pendant racemes 18-25cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. Flowers as a young plant. “Nice bright colour.”

W. floribunda 'Violacea Plena' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 59] Votes 15-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like, violet-purple fragrant double flowers in pendant racemes 25-35 cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. “Very distinct. Rich colour. Very floriferous.”

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 5

AGM Subject to Availability W. 'Enchantment' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 11] Votes 7-1 Vigorous, deciduous climber. Pinnate leaves of 9-13 ovate to lance-shaped leaves. Pea-like silvery-blue flowers produced in racemes 30-50cm in length. Often followed by velvety bean-like seed pods. “Very floriferous. Delicate flowers. Powerful scent.”

W. floribunda 'Kimono' AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 27 ] Votes 15 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, bluish-white flowers, with distinct blue-violet calyx, in pendant racemes 40-60cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. Also known as ‘White with Blue Eye’. “Abundant in flower. Very distinct.”

AGM Subject to Naming and Availability

W. floribunda ‘Eranthema’ AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 43 & 44] Votes 15-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, soft lilac-blue flowers in pendant racemes 40-50cm in length, opening from base to tip. Very large individual flowers appear before the leaves Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. “Outstanding.”

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 6

Reconfirmed AGMs W. floribunda ‘Multijuga’ AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 12, 16, 23, 42, 49 & 57 ] Votes 14-1 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, lilac flowers, tinged bluish-purple, in pendant racemes 50-80cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods.

W. floribunda ‘Rosea’ AGM (H5) 2012 [Trial No. 58] Votes 12-0 Flowers: Early summer Height: 9m Vigorous, deciduous climber. Twines clockwise. Pinnate leaves of 11-19 ovate to lance-shaped leaflets. Pea-like fragrant, soft, lavender-pink flowers in pendant racemes 30-40cm in length, opening from base to tip. Often followed by bean-like velvety seed pods. “Best pink floribunda.”

The following previously awarded Awards of Garden Merit were not part of the assessment and not reconfirmed. W. sinensis W. sinensis ‘Alba’

Index of Plants Assessed

TN Cultivar

1 W. sinensis 'Jako'

2 W. sinensis 'Jako' (ex. Hadlow)

3 W. sinensis 'Jako' (ex. Hadlow)

4 W. sinensis 'Augusta Pride' (ex. Catt)

5 W. 'Caroline' (ex. Hadlow)

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 7

6 W. sinensis 'Prolific' (ex. Hinton)

7 W. sinensis 'Amethyst' (ex. Hadlow)

8 W. sinensis 'Amethyst' (ex. Hadlow)

9 W. sinensis 'Prolific' (ex. Coblands)

10 W. floribunda 'Russelliana' (ex. N.Z. Liners)

11 W. 'Enchantment' (ex. Foster)

12 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. N.Z. Liners)

13 W. floribunda Golden Dragon’ (ex. ML)

14 W. floribunda 'Amethyst' (ex. Foster)

15 W. floribunda 'Royal Purple' (ex. Nettleton)

16 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. Richards)

17 W. 'Burford' (ex. Richards)

18 W. floribunda 'Noda Fuji'

19 W. floribunda 'Loders Purple'

20 W. floribunda 'Kuchibeni'

21 W. floribunda 'Hocker Edge'

22 W. 'Caroline' (ex. N.Z. Liners)

23 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. N.Z. Liners)

24 W. floribunda (B. 1 de Belder ex. ML)

25 W. macrostachya 'Bayou Two O'clock'

26 W. macrostachya 'Clara Mack' (ex. Manor Farm)

27 W. floribunda 'Kimono' (Syn. 'White with Blue Eye' (ex. NCSU)

28 W. macrostachya 'Pondside Blue' (ex. Foster)

29 W. brachybotrys 'Shiro-kapitan' (ex. Hadlow)

30 W. brachybotrys 'Showa-Beni' (ex. Foster)

31 W. brachybotrys 'Showa-Beni' (ex. Foster)

32 W. brachybotrys YK.581 (ex. Foster)

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 8

33 W. brachybotrys ‘Iko yama fuji’ (ex. ML)

34 W. brachybotrys (IDS coll. ex. Foster)

35 W. brachybotrys 'Okayama' (ex. Catt)

36 W. brachybotrys ‘Murasaki Kapitan’ (ex. Catt)

37 W. brachybotrys 'Okayama' (ex. Foster)

38 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. Wisley)

39 W. floribunda 'Royal Purple' (ex. Hadlow)

40 W. floribunda 'Royal Purple' (ex. Richards)

41 W. floribunda 'Kuchibeni' (ex. Foster)

42 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. Nymans)

43 W. floribunda 'Eranthema' (ex. Foster)

44 W. floribunda 'Eranthema' (ex. Foster)

45 W. floribunda 'Lawrence' (ex. Catt)

46 W. floribunda 'Lawrence' (ex. Catt)

47 W. floribunda 'Royal Purple' (ex. Kalmthout)

48 W. 'Burford' (ex. Kalmthout)

49 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. Kalmthout)

50 W. sinensis 'Prolific'

51 W. floribunda 'Domino'

52 W. floribunda (ML. 156)

53 W. floribunda (ex. Bridgemere)

54 W. floribunda 'Lavender Lace' (ex. Coblands)

55 W. floribunda 'Domino' (ex. Richards)

56 W. floribunda 'Alba' AGM (H5) 1993 (ex. Hadlow)

57 W. floribunda 'Multijuga' AGM (H5) 1993'

58 W. floribunda 'Rosea' AGM (H5) 1993(ex. Foster)

59 W. floribunda 'Violacea Plena' (ex. Hadlow)

Final Report for Trial No. 1938. – Wisteria 2008 - 2012 9

Source: Horticultural Trials and Relations,

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB E-mail: trials@rhs.org.uk

More information about RHS Trials and other colour illustrated reports can be found on

the RHS Website: http://www.rhs.org.uk/trials