Very beautiful among the hard-wooded Climbers, is the Chinese Wistaria
when in bloom. Its long, pendulous racemes of blue flowers are
exceedingly graceful. They are frequently twelve inches in length and
highly fragrant. The flowers appear about the last of May and first of
June. It is not a continuous bloomer like the Clematis, but often gives
a few flowers in August. It is rather slow at first, but after getting a
good start the second or third year grows very rapidly. It is hardy
after it gets strong, but young plants need some protection.
The Chinese White Wistaria was introduced by Mr. Fortune, and is
regarded as a great acquisition. The _Double Purple_ is illustrated in
Ellwanger & Barry's Catalogue, by a full page engraving, which gives one
an idea of its beauty better than the description which is as follows:
"A rare and charming variety, with perfectly double flowers, deeper in
color than the single, and with racemes of remarkable length. The plant
is perfectly hardy, resembling Wistaria _Sinensis_, so well known as one
of our best climbing plants. The stock which we offer was purchased of
Mr. Parkman, who received this variety from Japan in 1863, and was the
first to bloom and exhibit it in this country."
_White American Wistaria_ is a seedling originating with Messrs.
Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. Flowers clear white; bushes
short. Free bloomer.