Peter Dowdall: Wisteria walkway time tunnel will take in Cork-Kerry road closed in 1910

'Work is underway on what will be Ireland’s largest wisteria tunnel. Even though it's currently only 30% complete, it’s already a striking sight'

Aimee O'Callaghan, horticulturist, in the wisteria tunnel at Curraghbeg Plant Nursery. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare

Few plants stop you in your tracks quite like wisteria in full bloom. And right now, as we’ve been welcomed into May with some glorious sunshine, it’s putting on one of the most breathtaking displays of the gardening year. Cascades of lilac, violet, or white flowers tumbling from pergolas, arches, and walls have lit up gardens all over the country, and with the fine weather we’ve been having, this year’s display seems even more impressive.

If you’re lucky enough to have an established wisteria in your garden, you’ll know the joy of watching those bare, twisted vines explode into colour and scent. There’s almost an element of drama to it, from a tangle of lifeless-looking branches to a performance of colour and form that turns heads and lifts the spirits. 

Wisteria against a walled garden. File picture

But it’s a vigorous grower, and if it’s left to its own devices, it’ll happily take over roofs, gutters, and anything else it can cling to. That said, with the right care and, most importantly, the right pruning at the right time, it is very manageable.

Speaking of wisteria showstoppers, something particularly exciting is taking shape at Curraghbeg Nursery and Gardens, where work is underway on what will be Ireland’s largest wisteria tunnel. Even though it's currently only about 30% complete, it’s already a striking sight. When finished, the tunnel will stretch an incredible 240 metres, winding its way around several major features across the site and offering visitors a truly immersive floral experience.

Aimee O'Callaghan, horticulturist, in the wisteria tunnel at Curraghbeg Plant Nursery.

The tunnel route incorporates elements of the old Cork-Kerry road, which was closed in 1910 when the nearby Ovens bridge was built. A section of this road is now being carefully restored to reflect how it would have appeared in the early 20th century. 

The old Cork-Kerry road which was closed in 1910, at Curraghbeg Plant Nursery, Ovens, Cork.

Along the way, the wisteria walkway will pass by a number of charming features, including a hobbit house, which is about 70% built and set to receive its green roof later this summer.

A lake and dramatic waterfall are also central to the vision. The lake has already been dug out, and foundations for the waterfall will be poured in the coming weeks. A network of smaller pools and streams, which are nearly finished, will feed the waterfall and help create a tranquil and engaging water feature to complement the planting.

Dominick Cullinane in his design studio at Curraghbeg Plant Nursery and Tea Rooms.

At the heart of the development will be a set of productive gardens, featuring an orchard, vineyard, and areas for fruit, vegetables, and herbs. These functional yet beautiful spaces will sit within the embrace of the wisteria tunnel, making them both visually and horticulturally impressive. The entire journey will culminate in an amphitheatre, designed to host musical and theatrical performances throughout the year.

The project is the vision of Dominick Cullinane, whose passion for horticulture and community is evident throughout Curraghbeg. He is also the organiser of the annual LauraLynn Picnic, held each year on June 22, in support of the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. 

As part of this much-loved event, Ireland’s longest picnic table is assembled, running right through the centre of the nursery and bringing together visitors in a celebration of nature, music, and goodwill.

How to care for wisteria

Wisteria needs pruning twice a year. The first go is in the summer, usually July or August, after the flowers have faded. This is when you’ll want to cut back all those long, whippy green shoots, the ones it’s been busily throwing out since spring, to about five or six leaves from the main branch. This helps to keep the plant in check and stops it from putting all its energy into leafy growth instead of flower production.

Then we get to the more important prune, which is in late winter, around January or February. This time, you go back to those same shoots and cut them even harder, right back to two or three buds. What you’re doing here is encouraging the plant to form flowering spurs. It’s these short, stubby shoots that will produce those incredible floral displays next year.

If your wisteria isn’t flowering, you might be wondering what you’re doing wrong, especially if you’ve had it for a few years with not a single bloom. But the truth is, it can take a long time, sometimes as much as fifteen years, for a wisteria to reach flowering maturity.

The wisteria tunnel at Curraghbeg Plant Nursery. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

As with everything in the garden, patience is key. The other key is to give it the best conditions you can, full sun, a sheltered position, and a good, strong support on which to climb. Don’t forget to feed it in spring with a high-potash fertiliser, something like tomato feed, which encourages flower production rather than leaf growth.

One of the things I love most about wisteria is how it gives a garden a real sense of maturity and permanence. 

Even a relatively young plant starts to look ancient and wise once it gets going. The way those thick, gnarled stems twist and wind around themselves it’s almost architectural, like a natural sculpture.

Curraghbeg Plant Nursery and Tea Rooms is located just off the main Cork to Macroom road, at the end of the Ballincollig bypass; if you're planning a visit, the Eircode is P31 EP48

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