Evergreen Wisteria
Callerya reticulata (KAL-er-yah reh-tick-yoo-LAY-tuh)
Evergreen wisteria is a native of China, NE Vietnam, and Taiwan. Like true wisteria it is a woody climber with racemes of pea like flowers. However, as you can tell from its scientific name, Callerya reticulata, it is not a wisteria although both plants are part of the Legume (bean) family and the growth habit, leaves, flowers and fruit are similar. The genus name is in honor of of Joseph Callery, a French 19th century French missionary who traveled and collected botanical specimens in China. The species name 'reticulata' means 'netted' and refers to the pattern of the veining on the leaves. This plant is hardy in regions 8-10 so it may be tender in parts of North Carolina. If you have an area sheltered from the winter weather you could try training it up a wall. This plant likes a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained, loamy soil with a pH between 5.6 – 7.5. It can grow up to 15 ft tall and 6 ft wide This plant requires moderate watering, so don't let the container dry out and feed it with a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks. If you want more of them just plant a few seeds or take stem cuttings. The fragrant flowers make this plant ideal for a fragrant garden but it would also be at home in an aromatherapy garden or a naturalistic landscape. Train it to an arbor, trellis or pergola to provide shade on a summer's day. It can also be grown in a container and place where the fragrance can be enjoyed. The bluish-purple flowers have yellow centers and appear in hanging clusters in summer through fall. Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Watch for spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and weevils. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, black rot, and blight can also affect the plant
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 64 attributes.
How it fits the guild