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Old wisteria has not produced flowers or leaves

puterzrayputerzray Posts: 10
in Problem solving
We inherited a wisteria when we bought our current house 3 years ago. We have had 2 beautiful displays from this wisteria but this year nothing. No flowers and no leaves. 
There is a lot of rot on one side - see pics - but this doesn't look any different from when we moved in.
The previous owner said she thinks it's over 40 years old. Has it just reached the end of its life? 
All the leaves in the pic are from a rambling rose. 
There are a few shoots right at the bottom which worries me! 
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  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Unfortunately your pics haven't posted.  Wisteria do need regular pruning and good soil in order to thrive.
    @Obelixx may be able to advise you but again, the pics would help :)
  • puterzrayputerzray Posts: 10
    Thanks, I'll try adding the pics again. I have pruned it twice a year so am a bit concerned. 
    As I mentioned it is over 40 years old so is probably used to the soil. 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Dead as a dodo

  • puterzrayputerzray Posts: 10
    fidgetbones said:
    Dead as a dodo

    Is that your professional opinion? 
    There is growth at the bottom and when I scrape the bark at the top it is green underneath so it seems to be alive. 


  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    Wisteria can live for over 200 years  so old age is not the problem.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The new shoots coming up from the base are probably from the rootstock, unless it is on its own roots.  If the graft has failed through rot, the basal shoots may take over , but may take years to flower and be different variety to what you had before.
  • puterzrayputerzray Posts: 10
    fidgetbones said:
    The new shoots coming up from the base are probably from the rootstock, unless it is on its own roots.  If the graft has failed through rot, the basal shoots may take over , but may take years to flower and be different variety to what you had before.
    This was my thought but the trunk is still green under the bark even at the top. Is this usual if the graft has failed?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Stop pruning.  Let the existing shoots live in peace this summer and next winter and see if it flowers next year. 

    You may even be lucky enough t get a few sporadic flowers this summer.   Mine flowers profusely in lat April/early May and then starts again a few weeks later and keeps going all summer but not as profusely as the original display.  I don't prune mine anywhere near as closely as you have so maybe it's the pruning or else the buds were nipped by a frost.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Yes don't be too hasty in writing it off. We have a wisteria in a very large pot on the patio.  I  thought it was dead this spring but it has recently begun to sprout leaves. So give it a good watering and wait and see.
    AB Still learning

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Somebody posted pictures of their wisteria, I'm not sure if it was here on another group.  This time last year it was in full flower, this year it's just getting going.  Weather over the last year really seems to have confused many plants.
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