Embrace the vibrant world of bedding wallflowers (Erysimum cheiri), resilient members of the cabbage family. These beauties boast slender, dark-green foliage and lavish us with fragrant, springtime blooms in an array of colours.
In autumn these hardy biennials make their debut as bare-root plants. This means that they are field-grown, then lifted and quickly distributed for sale without soil around their roots. Sold in bunches, these are an extremely popular way to purchase wallflowers because they offer more value for money than potted versions. They are also hardy enough to cope with winter frosts, and they’ll establish and flower more quickly in the warm autumn soil than those planted in spring.
The period from when they go on sale in the autumn, to when they finish, can be fleeting. It is often weather dependent. Like buying turf, bare-root wallflowers have a short shelf life and need to be planted as soon as possible. For that reason, only limited numbers of plants are lifted from the field each week during the bare-root season, to maintain freshness and quality. Look out for bare-root wallflowers in our plant areas now until the end of October.
Choosing your wallflowers
When buying wallflowers it is key to look out for a few things:
- Check the roots have not dried out.
- Check the plants look healthy. You may notice a slight yellowing of any foliage but this is quite natural after they have been in the packaging and is nothing to worry about – they will soon recover. Plants with lots of rotting leaves or mould should be avoided.
Planting tips
- Choose a moist but well-drained spot that gets lots of sun.
- Ideally prepare your soil in advance by removing weeds and digging in some compost. If planting into containers, use compost with added John Innes and ensure there is good drainage.
- Soak the roots in water for an hour before planting them out in borders or containers. If you are unable to plant out immediately, remove them from the packaging and temporarily heel the plants into some damp soil. It’s important to keep the roots moist at all times.
- Plant around 25-30cm apart, firming in well. Each plant will get bushier as it develops. Water in well and keep the plants moist until they are well established.
- For extra bushy plants, pinch out the growing tip after planting. This will also protect any late growth that may be hit by frosts.
Ongoing care
- Keep the soil moist, especially when plants are flowering.
- Weekly applications of liquid feed in spring enhance flower production, especially for container-grown specimens.
- Deadhead plants to prolong flowering.
Spring Displays
Wallflowers can be spectacular in spring when there is little else in flower, and they make fantastic partners to tulips. Pollinators benefit from the pollen and nectar they provide early in the year. They also make an excellent cut flower, bringing their sweet but spicy fragrance into your home.
