This plant portrait post features the family of wallflowers, Erysimums, sometimes labeled as Cheiranthus, growing in the Fairegarden. They are shown in the above image on a foggy morning with dripping Nigella, Nasella tenuissima and red Salvia greggii.
Added: There has been some interest in the photo shown above. It was first featured in an early post that can be seen by clicking here-Blogger Visitors-In The Garden. It was about the day Tina of In The Garden came to visit the Fairegarden. We had never met, but hit it off immediately. There are a couple of other images showing the sunny fog that morning. Those conditions have never been duplicated since. It was a magical day.
The same scene as the first image, a year later, in 2009, is more reality based.
The view while standing on the other side of the wallflower planting shows a few other flowers blooming on April 28, 2009. The garden in late April is a joyous riot in this area.
Some might remember a whiney pants post about losing the files of photos saved for plant portraits recently. Among the lost images were a group of Erysimum shots taken over several months. The photos shown in this post were found in some previous posts about the Wallflower roommates, the Dianthus. Along the middle terrace of the slope behind the main house is a path of concrete step stones that has been colonized by dianthus seedlings. We wanted a planting to join in the sea of pink and extend the color before and after the Dianthus. Wallflowers have proven up to the task in the sunny, poor soil with excellent drainage in these beds. While bright orange mixed with the pinks might not be to everyone’s sensibilities, our belief about mixing color is the more the better. All are welcome.
A few close up wallflower shots were found after much searching on the jump drives. Hooray!
E. ‘Pastel Patchwork’
E. ‘Citrona Orange’
E. ‘Bowles’ Mauve’
E. ‘Pastel Patchwork’ right after purchase from the big box store in late February 2008.
E. linifolium’ Variegata’, (photo taken last week, late January)
Also growing hither and yon are seed started plants that have self sown in the gravel paths and been moved to the terrace among other spots. We feel fairly confident this is E. cheiri ‘Cloth Of Gold’ progeny.
Japanese painted fern makes a striking bedfellow This type of fern is also a volunteer, popping up everywhere.
This gold bit is even blooming right now despite snow, ice and sub freezing temps for days on end.
Information on these perennial/biennials was sparse. This information comes from the BBC plant finder site:
Bowles’ perennial wallflower
Common Name: Bowles’ perennial wallflower
Genus: Erysimum
Species: bicolor
Cultivar: ‘Bowles’ Mauve’
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy, Chalky/alkaline, Dry
Height: 45cm
Spread: 50cm
Time to take cuttings: May to JulySpring bedding is synonymous with wallflowers, which make a bright and very fragrant accent in beds and borders early in the year, and are discarded after flowering. Less familiar are the perennial wallflowers such as ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ and its lesser known relative ‘Bowles’ Yellow’. These are beautiful and floriferous, woody-stemmed small shrubs. Unfortunately they are short-lived as perennials, but easily replaced with young plants raised from cuttings.
Reading the above helps me understand why some of these are so short lived, for our soil is acid, not alkaline and that is just the nature of the beast. But the fragrance and color are outstanding in the garden, and some do manage to survive to seed about. They will continue to be grown here, with new plants added in spring and treated as annuals if need be. The Dianthus would miss them if we didn’t. Me too.
Frances
Fairegarden 
Frances,
That first photo is just beautiful. And, I love the bright orange wallflowers. I find myself becoming more and more fond of orange mixed with pinks and purples. I must thank you for your recent orchid post, which gave me the courage to repot my orchids. Have you noticed delayed blooming after they have been repotted?
Yes that first photo is simply magical 🙂
I love wall flowers, they just flower their socks off for months on end and give fabulous colour.
RO xx
Before I see your pictures, I only think of wallflower as a person who is shy/ a loner / can’t dance. I look up the dictionary and found that it is indeed real flowers! Now I want to walk up that path that is surrounded by so many pretty wallflowers and breath in the fragrance and see if the flowers will talk to me, just like Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps, they will talk when the wind blows and leaves starts to whisper.
Dear Frances, Like others, I have to say that your first photograph is beautifully ethereal and utterly entrancing.
The Erysimums are, of course, such excellent value in the spring border. It is such a pity that they seem to be short lived and lose vigour and form after a few seasons.
Hi Frances, wallflowers are among my favourite plants, I grow pink and orange which I think is a divine combination. Interestingly, they are perennials and have withstood tough love and cutting back and transplanting for years and years. I agree with Edith, the first photo is dreamingly ethereal and i love it. We are lucky that we have lots of flowers in winter aren’t we?
I love orange and pink together, a favourite colour combo at the flower shop, and none of my customers have complained. I have never grown wallflower and after reading this post, I am wondering why not! I shall be on the lookout.
I agree, all colors are welcome here too…just as God intended! Beautiful photos here Ms. Frances.
Frances, yours is the only US garden where I’ve seen photos of success with wallflowers, even though they are short-lived. I came back from Monet’s Giverny so inspired to grow them, but haven’t yet taken them on as boarders. Do they reseed? That is my hope!
Cameron
Gravel seems to be the perfect medium for a lot of seedlings! 🙂 Thanks!
I LOVE that first photo. I would just like to jump right in the photo and explore. 🙂
Beautiful! I’m sure the bloggers had a wonderful visit in your garden. Also, I really like your comment form on your blog.
You should have only posted that first picture. I had a hard time moving past it and really had to concentrate on anything after it.
Hi Frances, that first picture… it’s amazing! And I must say that I like the third one a lot to, just beautiful! Kram gittan
Stunning plant portrait! Talk about being ready for her closeup~Your first photo is beautiful~~Now I am toddling back to the couch and tissues. gail
Absolutely breath-taking and inspiring as all your photos are! Would you please share how to get your signature on your pictures?
Thanks for sharing your garden beauty.
Wendy
LOL, I never knew wallflowers actually existed, thinking it was just an expression. And as I already bemoaned at VP’s, ARG!, I should NOT be reading garden blogs this time of year by people who have less harsh winters. Your late April garden is like our early June garden. A Michigander can get so distressed this time of year!
I like the wallflower but it’s the dianthus in the slope picture with the stepping stones that really stands out to me. I hope to colonize one of our sloping areas with some this year. That first shot is very cool!
That first picture is stunning Frances. I had to linger over it. It took me away from all this cold and snow. These wallflowers remind me of one that grows wild in the park where I walk Luna. Along a hillside by the river where they cleared some of these orange wallflowers popped out. They delight the senses. However I have never gotten close enough to them to see if they have a fragrance. I will this summer.
The first photo is simply magical. I love the third photo too — all of those Dianthus (drool). I especially like the mauve and purple ones. Do they mostly bloom in the spring for you?
The first picture is sheer magic. The beauty is wondrous!
Frances I went back to the visitor (Tina) post, and it’s gorgeous. I love the shot of Veilchenblau draped over the pot on the back of the shed.
We get these yellow wallflowers in the meadow near our house and they are loved by the swallowtails as well. Your photos are beautiful, as always. Our soil is VERY alkaline and now I understand why the wallflowers survive so well here. Thanks
Everything in your garden is always so beautiful, lush, and not slug bitten. What’s the secret Frances? Fairies?
I had the most lovely Bowles Mauve, it bloomed winter and summer for over 8 years. I lost it in the big freeze of last year. But what an amazing plant.
Too bad it is so hard to find any little Cherianthus around here, they tend to be only the orangy yellow mix. I guess I should grow them from seed, but limited space makes it difficult for me.
Love that first shot, breathtaking.
Jen
Hi Frances,
It never ceases to amaze me how the same area in the garden can look different depending on the time of year, the weather and the time. I do love how fog can transform the look of plants with their tiny droplets clinging. Love your Salvia greggii – one of my favorite Salvias to grow.
Japanese painted fern is a volunteer. You lucky, lucky lady!
I’m glad you found some photos of your Wallflowers. I am a recent convert to them, as I just planted my first one last year. Thanks for the advice about taking cuttings. I will be doing so, as they are beauty, tough plants.
What pictures today! I love the one with the Dianthus looking up the hill. I love Erysimums too. I’m waiting for mine to start to bloom soon. I’ve read that these plants bloom themselves to death, it does seem true.
So lovely, Frances … but I could barely get past your 1st photo, breathtaking! (Japanese painted ferns love me too … aren’t we lucky).
Hi Frances~~ I love Erysimum. They really do make fabulous garden plants. Your photos are amazing!!!!!!
I love your garden, have I mentioned that before? I love the sweeps of color from so many great blooms. I am a big fan of Dianthus and the Wallflower mix. I have one Wallflower and had no idea it came in so many colors….then I saw it on some blogs over the last year. What a great plant. super super super photos Frances. Just lovely.
It’s funny that they’re named wallflowers because they’re beautiful and definitely can stand out. I especially love the gold one with the Japanese fern! As a gardener with alkaline, clay soil, these wallflowers may be perfect for me!
I’m supposed to be working on an article, but I spied your post title in my blogroll and of course had to scamper over here. I can smell those lovely wallflowers from here, Frances. They’re so beautiful, especially some of the new multicolour ones like Pastel Patchwork. I find them hard to find around garden centres unfortunately, maybe because they’re biennial and don’t seem to self seed well in these parts. I’ve grown the ordinary ones from seed but want the cool colours, of course.
Frances, you don’t know what a treat it is to see all these colorful blooms this morning. I know you must have been hit with bad weather, too; we are in the midst of a snowstorm that is supposed to turn into a blizzard…
Wallflowers are something I’ve never grown, but I like the idea of something else blooming in the spring. Glad you didn’t lose these photos–that first one looks positively magical. I can just imagine the resident fairies hiding out amongst the wallflowers.
I’m going to add absolutely nothing of merit other than to concede the fact that your first picture is simply a classic – and I mean with few peers anywhere. You can cut the humidity with a knife, lol – that saying seems to fit so well. Your latter wallflowers remind me of Evening Primrose, a distinctly old fave of mine which does very well out West. Thanks for the tour, great post, Frances.
Have I ever mentioned how beautiful your garden is? And that first photo is stunning! Funny thing, the only Wallflowers I’m familiar with (until now) had everything to do with Bob Dylan’s son, Jacob.
The maternal side of Richard’s family is from Estonia. When some of the cousins visited the homeland they brought us wallflower seeds from the old homestead. They flowered in rather dour brownish maroon and dull yellows but are super hardy and have sentimental value. Those yummy sherbety colors that I love and occasionally purchase are much more temperamental. The hot pink and bright orange color combo is stellar, in my book.
Hi Frances
Photo numero uno is sublime. You’ve said before ‘about the light’, but I also really like the garden view with its beautiful planting in number three.
I love the wallflowers but must grow a japanese painted fern, especially if they volunteer.
So many types of wallflower
What an exquisite foggy morning that must have been Frances. Off now to see if I can locate ‘Pastel Patchwork’ over here. I do hope so.
Thanks Frances. All those beautiful flowers have lifted my spirits. This rain can be a bit depressing.
I too have met wonderful Tina. Sadly I didn’t get to see her garden but I do in her photos. Maybe one day.
I haven’t had much luck growing them here but they smell good don’t they. I have three books by E. A. Bowles. Must get one down to read. Lovely photos as always.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I just wish I could smell them. Their smell reminds me so much of my grandfather, and the feel of their velvet petal between my fingers takes me back to childhood. I wish I had some in the garden here.
Frances, This is a genus that I wasn’t familiar with — and I can grow it in my northern garden. Like yours, my soil tends toward the acid (but since I heat with wood, I always have plenty of wood ash I can add in!) — and it’s certainly well-drained (think beach sand). When I add my hot-color beds in the front, I’m going to look for some of those orange wallflowers. Thanks for introducing me to them.
Love the first three photographs… I can always feel and see myself walking there… is such a mysterious lovely place…. it has that certain air….
Have a nice weekend Frances!
cielo
Gosh if you blink an eye you miss posts!! I totally missed this one and what a beauty it is Frances! I love the vista shots… beautiful garden plantings! Your first four photographs with the lovely wallflower sprinkled throughout are heart stoppers! What a treat!!! ;>) Carol
What fun! I love the orange wallflower myself. And sorry to hear about the misplaced photos…
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