The stunningly beautiful purple wisteria is a member of the legume, or pea, family. When its seedpods appear in autumn you can clearly see that it is a legume, as they look very much like dark, velvety pea pods. Most people think of wisteria as being purple. It actually comes in a variety of colors, from dark blue through shades of purple to pink, and a pure white.
Wisteria is much admired, and popularly believed to be difficult to grow.
In fact it is hardy, fast growing and suited to most climates. It makes for a very showy garden centerpiece, although its famous blooms only last in their full glory for a few weeks. Its leaves are also attractive. During the depths of winter, when all the leaves have fallen off, it is not an attractive plant, so be prepared to have more suitable plants for winter interest in your garden. Originally native to China and North America, wisteria grows happily in most climates.