Wisteria sinensis

Chinese Wisteria

The most common wisteria in the West. Leaves are 10–12 in. long, divided into 7–13 leaflets. Blooms before leafout. Clusters of violet-blue, slightly fragrant flowers are shorter (to 1 ft.) than those of W. floribunda but they make quite a show, since flowers open all at once nearly all along the cluster. Plants will bloom in sun or considerable shade.

Wisteria floribunda

Japanese Wisteria

Leaves are 12–16 in. long, divided into 15–19 leaflets. Fragrant, 1/2 -ft. clusters of violet or violet-blue flowers during leafout. Clusters open gradually, starting from the base; thi...

Wisteria

Wisteria are twining, woody vines of great size, long life, and exceptional beauty in flower. Very adaptable; can be grown as trees, shrubs, or vines. All have large, fresh green leaves divided into many leaflets, spectacular clusters of blue, white, or pinkish springtime blossoms, and velvety..., buy a cutting-grown or grafted wisteria; seedlings may not bloom for many years. If you start with grafted plants, keep suckers removed or they may take over. Wisteria is not fussy about soil

Millettia reticulata

Evergreen Wisteria

From China. This vigorous, twining vine is usually described as reaching 15 ft. but, like wisteria, can attain great size. Shiny, leathery, bright green leaves. In late summer or early fall, bears tight clusters of dark purple-red flowers with odor of cedar and camphor. Use as cover for arbor, pergola, or chain-link fence. Grows extremely fast and, once established, can overwhelm trees if permitted to climb into them.

Millettia

This genus includes deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs as well as woody-based, twining climbers. All have pea-like flowers and leaves divided into many lance-shaped leaflets that are similar to those of wisteria. These are evergreen in frost-free areas, deciduous elsewhere.

Laburnum

Goldenchain Tree

These upright growers are usually pruned into single-trunked trees, but can be shrubby if permitted to keep basal suckers and low branches. Green bark; bright green leaves divided into three leaflets (like clover leaves). Handsome during bloom in mid to late spring, when yellow, sweet pea–shaped flowers appear in hanging clusters similar to those of wisteria.

Use as specimen in lawn or border, plant in groups in front of neutral background, or space regularly in long border

Sophora secundiflora

Mescal Bean

From Texas, New Mexico, Northern Mexico. Reaches 15 to 25 ft. tall, 10 to 15 ft. wide; very slow growing, especially in cool-summer regions. Naturally shrubby but can be trained into tree with short, slender trunk or multiple trunks, narrow crown, upright branches. Leaves 4 to 6 in. long, divided into seven to nine glossy dark green, 1- to 2-in.-long leaflets. Blooms from midwinter to early... of wisteria. A white-flowered form is occasionally available.

Drimys winteri

Winter’s Bark

Native to southern Chile and Argentina. Slender tree to 25 ft. tall, 20 ft. wide; distinguished chiefly by its attractive foliage and dignified presence. Stems and branches, which tend to droop gra...

Sesleria

Moor Grass

Tufted evergreen to semievergreen perennial grasses from the hills and mountains of southeastern Europe. Tough, long-lived, low-maintenance plants that can take considerable drought once establishe...

Pistacia

These are ornamental species; for the plant grown for edible nuts, see Pistachio Nut. Glossy deep green leaves are divided into leaflets; insignificant flowers. If male trees are nearby, female tre...

Pistachio nut

Botanically known as Pistacia vera, this native of southwestern and central Asia produces the pistachio nuts sold in markets; for strictly ornamental members of the genus, see Pistacia...

Sesleria caerulea

Moor Grass

Grows 6 to 8 in. high and wide. Narrow leaves are powder blue on top, dark green beneath; their slightly twisted shape makes both colors visible. Short spike-like flowers held above the leaves in l...