Laburnum and Wisteria Arch Tunnel

I've always wanted to make the pilgrimage to Bodnant to see the Laburnum tunnel when in flower ... its so far away though - I could just upsticks and go, but in practice I only get to see things like that, that are far away, when something else crops up to make it possible.

I've wanted to grow one since I was a kid ... we visited a garden open under NGS the other weekend, and they had planted Laburnum along a Pergola - but they were not trained - and thus looked odd as small trees right alongside the Pergola.

Wisteria is only just in flower here, and Laburnum not quite yet (we've had a lot of Easterly winds, so since the balmy March our seasons are now behind - no matter).

I saw a video today that said it took a team of two people 5 weeks to tie-in the Laburnum at Bodant ... Blinking Heck! that would kick it into touch for me, and maybe that's why the NGS garden had not succeeded.

But I'm tempted to have a go. What do you think?

I am actually keen to try a Wisteria and Laburnum mix. They flower at the same time, the Mauve and Yellow would look good. I did a photo-search on Google today, and all the ones I found looks pretty naff - but that might just be because it doesn't capture well on "film"

I saw some amazing photos of Japanese Wisteria - huge, ancient, plants all proped up on "clothline poles" so the racemes hung down over a huge area.

And also a nice arch-tunnel with alternating White and Mauve Wisteria - that's another good idea, or one that could be combined with Laburnum. Allium along the planting seems popular - same flowering time, Mauve flowers ...

Some photos that I saved hoping for some inspiration!:


Bodnant - Stunning!


Abbey House Gardens - with Alliums


The Clock House, Hampshire


Ashikaga Flower Park, Japan


Ashikaga Flower Park, Japan


Wisteria and Laburnum combination

 

The pictures are absolutely stunning Kristen. I wonder what the Japanese ones look like from above?

 

Wow, they are amazing. Wouldn't it be great to have a go at that ?

 

I was looking at a grafting website and saw this one

it`s called Laburnocytisus 'Adamii' and actually is a grafted chimera between ,
same story with wisteria , can be grafted to produce a multi color or grafted on tree

 

Wondeful Kristen,
Sorry, can't remember where Iv'e seen them but they have been grown as a standard over an umbrella cage so that they hung down. Ah yes, and the growth stem had been plaited at an early age too.
Please try it, the yellow/ mauve combi. sounds lovely.
Thank you for these gorgeous piccies this morning,

 

I've just looked at the Bodnant website as I was going to visit the gardens this weekend. I wanted to check when the laburnam was open and apparently on the 18th it was budding and due to flower in a week or so. I might just chance it as we've had this glorious sunny weather which might have tempted the buds to bloom.
I was in the Bodnant garden shop last weekend and got a few plants. I always enjoy looking around the garden then heading into the shop to buy something nice I have seen which they have propogated.
I'll feed back after the weekend.
gazania

 

I`ve heard the arch at bodnant is ment to be amazing i cant wait to see it wish it was a bit closer though

 

I'm sure differing Wisterias flower at slightly different times.
I know Laburnum Vossii, flowers later than the species.

So now would be a good time to match the wisteria with the laburnum you want to grow, so both flower exactly the same time.

Slight change of tack, I saw a deep mauve/blue wisteria flowering in the top of a leafless ash tree the other day.
You could almost mistake it for a Jacaranda from a distance.

 

Stunning photo's Kristen!
I feel rather deflated about my "ace" idea of a Gloriosa arch now

I've inherited a Wisteria that is growing up a Taxodium distichum that is just starting to look really good.

 

Taxodium distichium, wow.
Definitely worth keeping.
Think I'd have to get the Wisteria out of that one, far too good looking to spoil.

 

Andrew Turvey from Myddelton House was around here a few weeks ago and cast his eyes over it, as well as an arboriculturalist friend of mine - both felt that the Wisteria posed no threat. However, I'll make my mind up on it after the summer. Both are very mature. I'll post a photo tomorrow.

 

Breathtaking Kristen

 

Yes, good point, and I definitely want Vossii cultivar for the longest racemes rather than some poxy seed-grown plebeian variety!

There was an article in The Garden on Wisteria a few months back ... the Racemes on some of the varieties were monsters, and might be worth mixing in ... perhaps a selection of Wisteria varieties for continuity and then pop-luck with when the Laburnum flowers? Presumably it won't consistently flower at the same time as a specific variety of Wisteria - like the Oak and the Ask thingie? Or am I over thinking it? (If you didn't see it I'll dig it out and précis the details)

 

Just added a photo of the Taxodium here