How to Grow Wallflower Plants

About Growing Wallflower Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Perennial Wallflower plants are easy to grow. This flowering plant will perk up rock gardens, bank sides, and walkways. And, they look great in just about any location. Wallflower plants look their best when grown in mass plantings. And, they tolerate a little crowding. This guide on “How to Grow Wallflowers” will help you to grow great plants this year and every year!

Wallflower plants are native to the Mediterranean, North and Central America, Europe, Southwestern Asia. The most common flower colors include shades of yellow, orange, and violet. Less common are pinks, blues, and crimson varieties.

Garden Tip: Try growing shorter varieties of wallflowers in containers on the deck, or in window boxes.

Wallflower Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Blue, orange, pink, purple, red, and yellow.

Plant Blooms: late spring through early Fall.

Plant height: Most varieties grow 4 inches to 24 inches tall. The largest variety can grow up to 50 inches tall.

Plant Spacing: 12″ , but allow more space for larger varieites.

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 – 10

Light Needs: Full to partial sunlight.

Toxic Plant?: While Wallflower plants are generally safe for humans, they can be toxic to your pets. They can cause allergic reactions.

Deer Resistant? Yes. Deer do not like their strong scent.

Plant Type: Most varieties are perennials. However, there are a few annual and biennial varieties.

Number of Species: There are over 270 species.

Native To: Europe

Botanical Name: Erysimum

Other Names: Alpine Wallflower, Bowles Mauve, Common Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Sanddune Wallflower

Are Wallflower Plants Edible?

Generally, NO!!

While this plant is considered safe to humans, it is not a plant for consumption, especially in any large quantities.

Medicinal Uses for Wallflower Plants

There are a number of medicinal applications. Here are some of them:

Use it to treat a variety of heart ailments.
Relieve Bronchitis.
It lowers fever and inflammation.
Purify the kidney and liver.
Treat eye injuries.
It is sometimes used to treat impotence.

Important note: Using this plant medicinally can result in serious side effects. Therefore, only use medication containing this plant while under professional medical care. Additionally, we strongly recommend you do not make home remedies from this plant.

Wallflower Plant Propagation

Perennial Wallflower plants are grown from seed. Wallflower seeds need light to germinate. Loosen the soil, and sow seeds on top of the ground. Water the seeds in, lightly. Keep the soil moist while germinating seeds.

ALso, the plant can be propagated from cuttings in the spring.

Days to Germination: 15-30 days.

Plants will often self-seed.

How to Grow Perennial Wallflower Flower Plants

Wallflower plants are easy to grow and maintain.

The plants prefer full to partial sunlight.

Grow plants in average to rich soil. The soil should drain well.

Wallflower does not need a lot of fertilizer. Mix in compost when first planting. Apply a general-purpose fertilizer in the early spring, and again in mid-summer.

Wallflower is somewhat tolerant of drought. Water the plants during extended dry weather. But, do not let the soil get soggy.

After the plants are established, mulch around them. This helps to keep the weeds down and retains soil moisture.

Protect the plants from strong winds.

How to Grow Wallflower Plants in Containers and Flowerpots

Perennial Wallflower plants look good and grow well in a flowerpot or container on your patio or deck. Try shorter varieties in a windowsill planter, too. When in bloom, you will love to see them just outside your window.

In addition to normal plant care, here’s how to grow Wallflower plantrs in containers:

These flowers tolerate a little overcrowding. So, grow them in containers a little closer than the normal recommended spacing.
Select a sunny to partially sunny location on your patio or deck.
It is important to have a drain hole in the container to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
The plant grows best in slightly moist soil. Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every few days, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Keep the soil moist, but not wet. It is okay to let the top of the soil to dry between watering.
When watering the plants, wet the soil but not to the point that it is soggy. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot. Then, allow the soil to almost dry before watering again.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once a month.

Pruning Wallflower Plants

It is important to prune Wallflower plants. This helps to keep them healthy. And, regualarly gives the plant and give the plant a neat and attractive appearance.

First, begin by Deadheading spent flowers because this extends the blooming period by promoting more flower blooms.

Remain on the lookout and remove dead or damaged leaves and stems.

After the blooming period is over, cut the stems back halfway to the ground. This helps to rejuvenate the plants and keeps them from becoming leggy.

Finally, at the end of the growing season, cut the stems back to a couple inches from the ground.

Overwintering Perennial Wallflower Plants

In most areas of the country, the plants will overwinter with little or no problems. In the coldest regions add some mulch over the planting site. Rake off the mulch in the spring.

Grow the plants as annuals in flowerpots and containers.