Wisteria floribunda “Macrobotrys” (Japanese Wisteria)
We say goodby to winter, Spring is here. The wisteria has been budding, teasing us for the last 2 weeks with the buds now breaking out into their mauve fanfare. At the present rate of development, weather permitting, the wisteria should be in full flower in about two to three weeks time, about mid October.
Last year, the longest raceme on the wisteria archway measured 1620mm, very special indeed. On a warm sunny Spring day the perfume of the Wisteria is wonderful and the haze of mauve is spectacular and an absolute must see.
Furcraea bedinghausii
At the same time there is another wonder of the plant world at Alowyn. The Furcraea bedinghausii has started to flower, an exciting vision as you walk up the entry path to the gardens. This unusual plant, with origins in Mexico, only flowers once in its lifetime. It grows for about 12 years up to a height of 4 metres, then suddenly a flower stem appears which grows rapidly for a period of four to six weeks. Our Furcrea flower stem has grown three metres over the past three weeks and is still growing. The stem will grow to a height of approximately 5 metres reaching a total height of up to 9 metres, then it will burst into scores of weeping branches which carry hundreds of greeny white bell flowers. It has an overall vision of a strange but very dramatic aerial Christmas tree. Unfortunately the plant dies after flowering but produces hundreds of little plantlets to start a new generation.
