Plant DetailShow Menu

Erysimum x cheiri

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Cheiranthus cheiri
  • Cheiranthus x cheiri
  • Erysimum cheiri
Phonetic Spelling
er-RIS-ih-mum ch-er-ee
Description

Wallflower is a perennial subshrub which is often used as a biennial or an annual. It has showy yellow to orange blooms April through June and makes a good cut flower. There are cultivars available with other colors.

It needs very well-drained soil and is able to grow in small rocky to gritting areas and even on walls. It tolerates full sun to partial shade but appreciates afternoon shade during hot southern summers.  Prune back flower stems after seed has matured to ensure it naturalizes in the garden.  This makes it great for rock gardens and raised beds. Do not overwater or fertilize.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ’Sunset Apricot’
  • ’Sunset Primrose’
’Sunset Apricot’, ’Sunset Primrose’
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#biennial#yellow flowers#orange flowers#naturalizes#self-seeding#cutting garden#subshrub#poor soils tolerant#raised beds#border front#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ’Sunset Apricot’
  • ’Sunset Primrose’
’Sunset Apricot’, ’Sunset Primrose’
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#biennial#yellow flowers#orange flowers#naturalizes#self-seeding#cutting garden#subshrub#poor soils tolerant#raised beds#border front#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cheiranthus
    Species:
    cheiri
    Family:
    Brassicaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Parts of the plant have been used for various medical conditions.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern Europe
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Siliqua
    Fruit Description:
    Dehisecent seed pods that split open when ripe (siliquies).
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of 3/4 wide yellow to orange fragrant 4 petaled blooms in the spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    2-8 inch long narrow and pointed bright green leaves at 3/4 inch wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Riparian
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil