Wisteria is a controversial plant. Chinese and Japanese Wisteria are considered invasive species in many parts of the eastern United States, but when properly maintained, it's one of the most beautiful displays of spring's grandeur.

The famous Wisteria display at Old Westbury Gardens is pruned nine months out of the year so the vine stays nice and tidy and is growing in a place where it naturally wouldn’t. I spoke with Maura Brush, president and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens. She is a horticulturist with expertise in Wisteria and explains how they keep their Wisteria so well-behaved and gorgeous.

Old Westbury Gardens is located off the Long Island Expressway in Westbury, New York. The gardens are open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) all season long from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They also have their annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. Click here for the details.

Here are a few facts about Wisteria:

The Vine Doesn’t Cling, It Twines Wisteria vines twist their way up poles, trees, and anything else they can twine around. However, the vines cannot latch onto walls (unlike ivy, for example).

Wisteria Needs a Lot of Attention to Bloom Properly Wisteria doesn't bloom for very long, and only the outer edges of the vine bloom. Only regularly pruned Wisteria will bloom well in the garden. At Old Westbury Gardens, the vines are pruned from February to October. Spindly stems are pruned weekly during the growing season. The only time the plant isn't being pruned is when the flower buds appear from mid-April through May. Then it’s pruned back. Constant pruning ensures the entire vine produces new growth, as the flower buds only appear on new growth.

There’s a Secret to Old Westbury Gardens’ Wisteria Blooms The vines bloom best when grown horizontally on a bright and sunny wall. This is not a natural habit for Wisteria because the vine twines instead of latching, but it is how the Wisteria at Old Westbury Gardens gets its majestic blooms.

Wisteria Seeds Are Dangerous After the flowers fade, it’s very important to prune off all the seed pods. The seed pods are harmful to the plant because they use up a lot of energy and will reduce next year’s floral display. Even more importantly, the seed pods are toxic to humans and pets if eaten. Even if you’re not growing Wisteria, it’s important to identify where the plants are growing and avoid letting your pets go near that area if the seed pods drop later this season.

Wisteria Is a Vigorous Plant Seedlings should not be allowed to grow. They can take 15 years to produce their first blooms. Gardeners looking to grow Chinese and Japanese Wisteria should purchase plants that are "grafted" with adult branches.

A Better Wisteria for Your Garden The best Wisteria for your garden is our native American Wisteria. This species has adorable flowers that aren’t as fragrant or as large as the Chinese or Japanese variety, but they are beautiful. They bloom in late May and rebloom on and off in the summer, which is an advantage over non-native Wisteria that will not do this! More importantly, the vines don't grow as large and are better suited for smaller arbors.

In Summary My personal recommendation? Avoid growing Chinese and Japanese Wisteria and enjoy the blooms by visiting well-maintained displays at one of the many public gardens in our area! American Wisteria is a better alternative for most gardeners, but if you would like to grow the Chinese or Japanese varieties, make sure to place them somewhere that they can be properly maintained and ensure the seed pods are removed.