Wallflower

Erysimum cheiri, wallflower (also sold as Cheiranthus cheiri), is a Mediterranean native named for its habit of self-sowing into cracks in old stone walls and cliffs, where its wiry roots find the sharp drainage it needs. Spikes of four-petaled flowers in warm shades of yellow, orange, red, and maroon-brown open in spring with an intense, sweet, clove-like fragrance that made it a mainstay of Victorian bedding schemes and remains one of the most reliably scented plants for a spring border.

Most strains are short-lived, grown as a biennial — sown or planted one year for bloom the next spring — though some perennial selections persist for a few seasons in the right conditions. Good drainage is essential, especially over winter, since wet soil is the most common cause of loss; it otherwise tolerates poor, lean, and alkaline ground better than most spring bedding plants. Deadhead spent spikes to extend the bloom period into early summer, and plan to replace or resow every year or two for a consistently full display, since even the hardier strains fade after a few seasons.