Erysimum Scoparium

Description

From high on the mountains of the Canary Islands comes this ancestral relative of garden wallflowers. Long, almost ever-blooming spikes of pinkish-lilac flowers, open on slender stems, above fine, grey-green foliage, which forms a low dense shrub, much wider than it is tall. It is completely drought tolerant in summer, thus ideal for a very sunny, well drained soil. It will also grow quite happily in all but the wettest, shadiest sites. It is very low maintenance, needing no dead heading, spent flower heads virtually disappearing.

Sowing Advice

Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.

Key Facts