10 Flowering Vines That Cover a Fence Beautifully

Tip #6: American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

Many home gardeners avoid wisteria due to the destructive, invasive reputation of Asian species (Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda), but American wisteria offers all the classic romance without the aggressive headache. Native to eastern North America, this well-behaved woody vine yields dense, six-inch clusters of fragrant, bluish-purple pea-like flowers in late spring, repeating sporadic blooms throughout the summer months. American wisteria grows steadily without crushing surrounding structures or sending uncontrollable underground suckers across your yard. Because mature wisteria vines develop heavy, woody trunks over time, support them with strong wooden post-and-rail fences or heavy-duty galvanized wire systems anchored into sturdy fence posts. Prune your vine immediately after the primary spring bloom to shape its direction, and execute a secondary light pruning in late summer to control long whip-like shoots and encourage strong flower bud formation for the following year.