Vine For Chain Link Fence

[The Helpful Gardener]

Right AS, somewhere in that range is about right, and 2 x 2's should be good for honeysuckle; nowhere near the gorilla like grip of Wisteria sinensis...

Our [url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=WIFR]native form[/url]is much better behaved, but not much available int the trade... shame, as it would seem to be a better garden plant...IF you can get by "Big Flower" thinking...

Dec, I'm not worried about now when you are young. This plant used to be easier to take care of here than it is now. As we continue warming up, this one will get worse and worse. It will be pretty, to be sure. But I've gotten wrecked by pretty before, y'know?

HG

[Decado]

Right AS, somewhere in that range is about right, and 2 x 2's should be good for honeysuckle; nowhere near the gorilla like grip of Wisteria sinensis...

Our [url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=WIFR]native form[/url]is much better behaved, but not much available int the trade... shame, as it would seem to be a better garden plant...IF you can get by "Big Flower" thinking...

Dec, I'm not worried about now when you are young. This plant used to be easier to take care of here than it is now. As we continue warming up, this one will get worse and worse. It will be pretty, to be sure. But I've gotten wrecked by pretty before, y'know?

HG

Well I guess I'll just have to figure it out when it comes to that, I figure though by the time that happens nobody from my family will be living here anymore. I was thinking though, might the Blue Moon species not grow as crazy as the Sinensis? I'm going to go forward assuming it will grow like the Sinensis, but maybe it won't?

Also, later this summer or next summer (when money allows) I'm going to build a sturdy arbor with 6x6 posts and 4x8 roof timbers to let it grow up when it gets big enough, so hopefully by the time it overcomes whatever I use for now it won't be necessary anymore.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Good news, Decado...

I should have looked this up earlier... 'Blue Moon' is from the old song Blue Moon of Kentucky! This is Kentucky wisteria which was thought to be a subset of out native W. frutescens (var. macrostachya, now its just Wisteria macrostachya). Bill Cullina has this to say about it... "It's a bit more cold hardy, and this combined with its more lavish bloom, makes it the type to seek out and grow." I've known Bill for a while and if he likes it it's a good one... so this is native and more, shall we say, refined in habit?

So all this brow beating from nothing; just a cultivar I hadn't heard of yet and I assumed an Asian type. And it appears native forms ARE making it to the market place...

I still would build the bigger arbor...

HG

[Decado]

Oh nice, so does this mean it doesn't grow as rampantly?

[The Helpful Gardener]

Right. It IS the native species I was talking about... And the better flower of our two native forms...

HG

[Decado]

It should still grow enough to cover that trellis and an arbor though right?

[MaineDesigner]

Decado, I suggest you contact Harvey Buchite at Hidden Springs Flower Farm: [url]https://www.hiddenspringsflowerfarm.com/[/url]
I believe Harvey made the selection of 'Blue Moon' and he will know better than anyone else how it behaves in your Zone 4 conditions. I don't think you have any worries about it being insufficiently vigorous.
I think something like 2x2 pressure treated or cedar in a 4x4 (or 6x6) pressure treated frame screwed and glued should make great trellis. Be sure you wear a dust mask if you rip pressure treated 2x4s to get 2x2s.

[The Helpful Gardener]

True dat, MD...

Nasty things they use to keep the fiungus at bay...

And don't worry about the ability of that wisteria; I know a clump of native over by the casinos that is HUGE... It's still wisteria and yes it will cover your trellis this year...

HG