Wisteria > Wisteria macrostachya > Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon'
Wisteria macrostachya
'Blue Moon'
Origin: Wisteria macrostachya is a deciduous vine native to the south central United States. The vine ranges from Texas and Louisiana all the way north to Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Missouri, and even Michigan. It is often found in low swampy woods and swamp borders, low streams and bayous. The ‘Blue Moon’ cultivar was introduced by Harvey and Bridgette Buchite of Hidden Springs Flower Farm, Spring Grove, Minnesota. It is a cultivar of the Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya). The Buchites took cuttings from the original and brought the plants with them when moving to Minnesota. This hardy cultivar can stand up to -40 climates. Originally regarded as a subspecies of the American wisteria, the Blue Moon Wisteria has since been classified a separate species because of much longer blooms.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The Blue Moon wisteria is an overwhelmingly beautiful vine when blooming. One of the hardiest wisterias, ‘Blue Moon’ can thrive in a very cold environment. It can grow very large and blooms up to 3 times a year. This vine however is quite invasive, and needs to be properly controlled.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Fabaceae |
| Genus |
| Wisteria |
| Species |
| macrostachya |
| Cultivar |
| 'Blue Moon' |
| Type |
| Vine |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 4a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-45) - (-5) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-31) - 23 |
| Height |
| 9 m |
| Spread |
| 0.6m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Wisteria macrostachya ‘Blue Moon’ or Blue Moon Wisteria as it is commonly known, is a deciduous vine. It boasts beautiful long and fragrant blue flowers that droop down. It can grow very large. |
| Landscape |
| Excellent specimen for large garden structures such as terrace walls, arbors, and fences as it can provide a screen or topiary. It can also work as a hedge. Sometimes used as a mass planting. Often found in low streams and along rivers. |
| Cultivation |
| This plant thrives best in moderate moisture, slightly acidic well drained soil, although it is not a particular soil type. It is extremely tolerant of urban pollution, and will thrive in the city. It also requires a lot of exposure to the sun to yield the best flowers. This wisteria grows rather rampant. It requires regular upkeep to be properly controlled, as it can be quite invasive. ‘Blue Moon’ is somewhat tolerant to colder weather, but thrives in warmer climates and microclimates. Properly applying thick mulch will help wisterias in colder places. |
| Shape |
| This plant can be hedged if properly shaped, but looks most organic trained against a large structure, whether it's a building, fence, or garden structure. It has been known to reach roughly 30 feet when fully matured, which takes roughly 15 years. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Very long blue/light purple flower spikes. Flower spikes droop/hang down. Contains properties toxic to mammals, and can cause extreme discomfort if ingested. |
| Pests |
| Aphids and leafminers can be a small issue but nothing significant. Scale insects are also a minor problem. Leaf spot and Powdery mildew on the stems can also occur, Although it is relatively pest and disease tolerant. Deer Tolerant. |
| Habitat |
| The ‘Blue Moon’ variety was introduced by Harvey and Bridgette Buchite of Hidden Springs Flower Farm, Spring Grove, Minnesota. The Buchites took cuttings from the original and brought the plants with them when moving to Minnesota. The cultivar that it became can thrive in up to -40 conditions |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Dark brown coloured bark, with bright green softwood underneath. |
| Leaf Description |
| Green, oppositely arranged compound leaves, pinnately veined. With roughly 10 leaflets. 10-12 centimetres in length. |
| Flower Description |
| 25-30 cm Fragrant, long blue/purple flower spikes that droop down, blooming in early summer. Heavily pollinated by carpenter bees and bumblebees. |
| Fruit Description |
| Long pods, containing small seeds which are toxic if ingested. 15-18 cm. |
| Colour Description |
| Green foliage only when not in bloom. The flowers are a very light purple, almost blue, with a slight fade to white near the top of the flower spike. Green stems and greyish/brown bark. Pods and fruit are brown. |
| Texture Description |
| Both flower and foliage are finely textured most of the season. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, United States of America. |
| Propagation |
| You can propagate this wisteria from either the seeds or cuttings, however propagation through seeds will take much longer, and may result in a different species than its parent. If growing from seed, you need to remove the pods (fruit) and extract the seeds. It is best to do this in the fall. After germination, the seeds should be planted about 2.5 cm deep in a pot. Once the seedlings have reached 10 cm tall or have grown two sets of leaves, they are ready to be planted. The best time to plant is the late spring or early summer, ensuring you have more than 45 days until the first frost of winter. Choose an area with well-drained soil and next to a wall, arbour or other large structure, also somewhere that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you want flower blooms sooner, it is best to use cuttings. The cuttings should be taken from the softwood in the spring or summer, and should be about 8-15 cm long. Remove any leaves on the lower half of the cutting, also any flower buds. Plant in a pot with well-drained soil, then cover with plastic, ensuring the cutting is not in contact with the plastic. Next, place someone that receives good natural light. Rooting should occur 4 to 6 |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The flowers can be used to make beverages, such as juice and sparkling water, other than this, No current ethnobotanical uses found, most likely because of seeds toxicity. The flowers however are not toxic. Other wisterias flowers have traditionally been used as a salad ingredient or to make tea, as the flowers are edible, raw or cooked. Some people use the flowers to make beverages, such as juice and sparkling water. |
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