The vine was planted in 1894 by Mrs. William (Alice) Brugman. Brugman purchased the vine from the old Wilson nursery, in
Monrovia, for seventy-five cents in a 1-gallon bucket. The vine's trunk is now over a meter in diameter. The lavender flowers have a sweet fragrance. Mrs. Brugman sold the home and the vine to Henry and Estelle Fennell in 1912. The Fennells promoted the vine's growth, building arbors and trellises to keep it off the ground. The vine is on the
alluvial plain of the
San Gabriel Mountains, with a good water source and drainage. The vine grew onto the house. From 1894 to 1930, the
Pacific Electric's
Sierra Madre Line street cars bought visitors from around greater
Los Angeles to Wistaria Festival. The weight of the vine later collapsed the roof. A new house was built north of the vine. In 1936, the Fennells sold the house and vine to Carrie Ida Lawless. Lawless built new arbors and trellises to keep the vine off the ground and the house. Lawless died in 1942, and her nephew Bruce McGill inherited the house and vine. McGill worked with the Sierra Madre Garden Club in care of the vine. The original lot was subdivided in 1961, so the vine is now on two adjoining properties. Due to the vine's status, the vine is now maintained by experts from universities and local horticulturists. The Sierra Madre Wisteria is one of the
Seven Horticultural Wonders of the World. ==Wistaria Festival==