Wistera (American)

Wild hedge smothering

Ornamental

Wisteria (American Wisteria)

These are file photos from years past, however, I just saw the yearly avalanche of Wisteria that drape a hedge row near the junction of Interstate-430 and I-630 in Little Rock, AR (USA) -- and seem to hang around for a week before disappearing into a purple rain.

(Note: as obsrved now for several weeks, our Spring this year, 2010 is about a week behind the last several.)

As lovely as they are, the wisteria vine is not always welcome as it can smother trees and brush. Years ago I came across wisteria clusters that formed something of a Wisteria Falls, as clusters cascaded down a 40 foot tree.

Kingdom:Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Faboideae

Tribe: Millettieae

Genus: Wisteria

Species: W. frutescens

Wisteria/Wickipedia

Guess what else is part of the Fabaceae family? (You may be suprised)