Strong support is needed. For best flowering, plant in full sun and go easy on high nitrogen fertilizers. Root pruning may stimulate flowering in established specimens. Plants grown from seed may take many years to flower, so growing one of the many named varieties is recommended. Flower color ranges from white to pink and shades of bluish-purple.
Fragrance varies considerably between cultivars.
Hardy in zones 5-9. It is a much less rampant grower than its Japanese cousin and is more tolerant of damp soils. May. For partial shade to full sun. May survive a mild winter in zones 8b-9a.