Wormseed Wallflower Erysimum cheiranthoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- er-RIS-ih-mum kair-anth-OY-dees
- Description
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Wormseed Wallflower is an annual or biennial in the mustard family. Its common name refers to its former use as an anthelmintic, a remedy to expel worms from the digestive tract.
It differs from other species in the mustard family as it does not have the lobes and teeth that the other species are present. Its narrow leaves also set them aside from the mustard family.
It is frequented by bees, flies and beetles, while other wildlife find the seeds and foliage quite bitter to the taste. However, if there is a limited food source, other wildlife may use this plant as a last resort.
The upper half of the plant has few to no branches while numerous leaves form along the entire stem. The leaves are narrow, and the base tapers to a short petiole.
Its flowers take the form of a raceme at the very top of the stem. The yellow flowers have 4 petals, 4 light green sepals, 6 stamens and a pistil. The tiny flowers can be hidden by the seedpods. Blooming from late spring into the later part of the summer, a colony can be in bloom for up to 2 months.
It prefers a fertile loamy soil and full sun to perform at its best, however, will also flourish in sandy or clay based soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be quite weedy especially in disturbed areas such as pastures, roadsides, along railroad tracks and other waste areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Erysimum
- Species:
- cheiranthoides
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees, beetles, and flies frequent are frequent visitors.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a slender pod that contains a single row of seeds. The pod will split open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are formed as rounded clusters of 1/2", 4 petaled yellow flowers bloom in the summer at the top of the plant and the tips of the stems. Each flower will have 6 stamens, of which 2 are shorter than the other 4.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves have little or no stalk. The surface of the leaves have tiny star-shaped hairs. The leaves become smaller as they ascend the stem. The basal leaves will wither as the plant flowers.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The ribbed stems will elongate as the plant matures. The flowers form at the top of the stems, while its fruits will form below.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
