Common Wallflower

(Erysimum cheiri)

Common Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Erysimum cheiri, commonly known as Common Wallflower, is an evergreen biennial or short-lived perennial herb native to rocky slopes, cliffs, and open scrubland in southern Europe. It typically grows to a height and width of 0.5-2 feet. The plant is admired for its profusion of fragrant flowers that come in a spectrum of colors, including cream, yellow, orange, pink, purple, red, and brown, blooming in the spring and early summer. The flowers are particularly showy, making it a favorite for ornamental use.

The Common Wallflower is valued for its vibrant and fragrant flowers that can enliven gardens during the spring. It is commonly used in urban planting, border planting, and as part of bedding schemes, often alongside spring bulbs like tulips and forget-me-nots. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soils, tolerating a range of soil types. While it requires low to medium amounts of water, it does benefit from regular deadheading to promote continued blooming. Many cultivars have been developed to offer a wider range of colors and flower forms. However, Erysimum cheiri can become leggy in its second year and is susceptible to clubroot, a serious disease that can affect plants in the cabbage family. Additionally, it is potentially invasive in some regions, such as parts of the United States, and should be planted with caution outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.5-2 feet
  • Width: 0.5-1.5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Yellow, Purple, Red
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Low, Medium
  • Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Rocky slopes, cliffs, and open scrubland in southern Europe

Other Names

Common Names: Aegean Wallflower, Wallflower, Cheir’s Wallflower, Gyldenlak, Goldlack, Goldlack-Schöterich, Giroflée, Revenelle, Vélard, Giroflée Des Murailles

Scientific Names: , Erysimum cheiri, Cheiranthus cheiri, Erysimum suffruticosum, Erysimum ×cheiri subsp. inexpectans, Erysimum pseudocheiri, Cheiranthus helveticus, Cheiranthus cheiri var. fruticulosus, Cheiranthus ×silenifolius, Erysimum lanceolatum subsp. helveticum

GBIF Accepted Name: Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz