This is NOT the invasive exotic wisteria species that has escaped to smother much of the roadside throughout the south, competing with Lonicera japonica. Rather Wisteria frutescens ’Amethyst Falls’ is an American native species, a selection found in the northwest corner of SC and introduced by Head-Lee Nursery. It flowers as a very young plant with slightly fragrant blooms well after any chance of frost. Give it lots of sun. It usually reblooms in late spring. Vigorous but not invasive, deciduous, for sun in zones 5-9.

Wisteria frutescens ’Nivea’ is the white flowered form of our native American wisteria. Like ’Amethyst Falls’ it is NOT invasive. White blooms in early May are fragrant. Wonderful native vine, quite rare even so. We don’t understand why gardeners set free W. floribunda to eat their birthright but don’t grow this restrained native. It’s in the Constitution I suppose. Deciduous, for sun, in zones 5 - 9.