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Take Two

How did Sierra Madre's record-setting wisteria get so big?

By Take Two Staff
Published Mar 14, 2014
Homeowner Nel Solt and her husband bought the house 41 years ago. The Wisteria plant's fragrance is very strong in her backyard. "You don't need to shower, you can just go here," Solt said.
Homeowner Nel Solt and her husband bought the house 41 years ago. The Wisteria plant's fragrance is very strong in her backyard. "You don't need to shower, you can just go here," Solt said.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
According to the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, the famous Wisteria plant has had as many as 1.5 million blooms.
According to the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, the famous Wisteria plant has had as many as 1.5 million blooms.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The Wisteria vine, which weighed 250 tons when it entered the Guinness World Records in 1990, once crushed a structure on one of the properties.
The Wisteria vine, which weighed 250 tons when it entered the Guinness World Records in 1990, once crushed a structure on one of the properties.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The vines reach from the front of Nel Solt's property into the backyard and over a fence into her neighbor's backyard. The Wisteria Festival is free to the public on Sunday, March 16, 2014.
The vines reach from the front of Nel Solt's property into the backyard and over a fence into her neighbor's backyard. The Wisteria Festival is free to the public on Sunday, March 16, 2014.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The one-acre vine stretches across two adjacent Sierra Madre properties on trellises. Homeowner Nel Solt bought this home 41 years ago.
The one-acre vine stretches across two adjacent Sierra Madre properties on trellises. Homeowner Nel Solt bought this home 41 years ago.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The world's largest Wisteria plant, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, will be open to the public on Sunday, March 16 in Sierra Madre.
The world's largest Wisteria plant, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, will be open to the public on Sunday, March 16 in Sierra Madre.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The Wisteria plant usually blooms for about two weeks in mid-March, but this year it bloomed early because of warmer-than-usual temperatures.
The Wisteria plant usually blooms for about two weeks in mid-March, but this year it bloomed early because of warmer-than-usual temperatures.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Lots of bees can be found in the vine, but homeowner Nel Solt said they rarely fly far from the plant.
Lots of bees can be found in the vine, but homeowner Nel Solt said they rarely fly far from the plant.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Solt says the Wisteria plant doesn't require a lot of maintenance, but she does have to do a lot of sweeping.
Solt says the Wisteria plant doesn't require a lot of maintenance, but she does have to do a lot of sweeping.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The vine was first planted in 1894. Sierra Madre has come to be known for its annual Wistaria Festival, and there's even a local restaurant named after it.
The vine was first planted in 1894. Sierra Madre has come to be known for its annual Wistaria Festival, and there's even a local restaurant named after it.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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How did Sierra Madre's record-setting wisteria get so big?

This Sunday, the town of Sierra Madre holds its 97th annual Wistaria Festival. The public is invited to check out the town's massive, woody shrub that's grown so large it's in the Guinness Book of World Records.

So how did Sierra Madre's wisteria get to be so big? We sent KPCC's Science Reporter Sanden Totten out to investigate.