A re-post from May, 2006
Japanese Wisteria blooms in May in New England.
It's a sentimental Victorian plant that is perfect for shading pergolas, arbors and porches.
Once established, it grows like a weed, up to 10' per summer. It takes work to keep it under control.
Robins love to nest in their tangles: I have a pair of robins nesting in mine right now, so I cannot trim it until the babies leave the nest.
Like many exotic, introduced plants, it can be very invasive and aggressive: eliminating wild stands of wisteria is a tough job.
I grow sweet-smelling Autumn Clematis up my Wisteria vines, so the vine serves double duty. Autumn Clematis is another one of those strong vines that grow like crazy, with amazing September perfume.