Wallflower
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 Erysimum scoparium
(Teide Wallflower) |
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Erysimum ammophilum |
The genus Erysimum includes the wallflowers, which include more than 220 species, both popular garden species and many wild forms. They are small, annual, short-lived perennial herbs or sub-shrubs, reaching 10-130 cm tall, with bright yellow to red or pink flowers produced throughout the spring and summer. One species, Erysimum semperflorens, native to Morroco and Argelia, has white flowers. Wallflowers have malpighiacious trichomes.
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[edit] Distribution
Wallflowers are native to southwest Asia, the Mediterranean region, Europe, Macaronesia, and North America. Many wallflowers are endemic to small areas, such as the Teide Wallflower E. scoparium, endemic to the Teide volcano on Tenerife, the Franciscan wallflower, E. franciscanum, endemic to the northern California coast, the Sierra Nevada Wallflower E. nevadense, endemic to the Sierra Nevada of Spain, and the endangered Santa Cruz wallflower, E. teretifolium, endemic to the inland sandhills of Santa Cruz County, California.
[edit] Pests
Erysimum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Garden Carpet. In addition, some species of weevils, like Ceutorhynchus chlorophanus, live inside the fruits feeding on the developing seeds. Many species of beetles, bugs and grasshoppers eat on the leaves and stalks.
[edit] Cultivation
Most garden wallflower cultivars (including e.g. Erysimum 'Chelsea Jacket', left) are derived from E. cheiri, from southern Europe. Growth is best in dry soils with very good drainage, and they are often grown successfully in loose wall mortar, hence the vernacular name. Their flowers are often purple or brown.
[edit] External links
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