Wisteria fireworks

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, Apr 19, 2019.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Hadn't realised that wisteria was a violent plant - the old seed pods have just started exploding! Scared the bejesus out of me! They do go with a fair old crack

    Must be the heat today.
     
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    • Trunky

      Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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      Well there's a coincidence. I noticed exactly the same thing in our garden today Loofah. Like you, I've never seen this before on Wisteria. Must be something to do with the right weather conditions as you say.

      They do go off with a loud crack don't they, at least in our garden it scared the pigeons off for a while. :biggrin: What also surprised me is how far they fling the seeds when they go off - I heard one snap this evening, immediately followed by the sound of the seed landing on the roof of next door's bungalow and rolling down the tiles. That roof is a good 15 yards or so from our Wisteria plant.

      Several of the empty pods are now littering the ground below the plant and some still contain the small hard pea-sized seeds.

      DSC00734.JPG

      The only other plants where I've observed seed pods snapping like this on hot sunny days are broom and gorse. Makes sense I suppose as they're both members of the pea family, as is Wisteria.
       
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      • Doghouse Riley

        Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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        Our wisterias do produce several seed pods, but I start cutting back some of the foliage in September and they are still green at that time.
         
      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        Yeah, now I should have trimmed it back but... we’ll i just couldn’t be bothered this year!
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Our pods went off with a loud bang yesterday as well.

        It was a bit more serious with us :rolleyespink:. Mrs Shiney had them stored on the worktop in the kitchen (had been using them in flower arrangements) and was in there at the time, and apart from getting the fright of her life she had to duck to miss the flying seeds. :heehee:

        She has decided to pot up the seeds.
         
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        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          I put a few pods in a sealed Tupperware to bring with me after moving - get a bloomin good bang in there!

          Germinated some a few years ago, they're very easy and obliging :)
           
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