Seasonal Wild Flowers

Wallflower

Erysimum cheiri

Brassicaceae

March to June

It is found in gardens throughout the country.

Naturalised escapes are also found throughout the country

but they are less common in the Northwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Wallflower

They are archeophytes which have been recognised in the

wild since the mid 1500s.

Naturalised plants are found on waste ground and brownfield

sites, along railways and on rocky places, cliffs, quarries and

walls. They are particularly striking on the eastern cliffs and

quarries on the Isle of Portland, Dorset.

Wallflowers are familiar, perennial herbs, which can grow

up to 50cm.

Flowers have 4 petals and are up to 3cm across, in a range

of colours.

Leaves are narrow and without teeth.

Seed pods are cylindrical and several cm long.

Previous page: Thale Cress
Next page: Wall Speedwell

Wallflower in a quarry, Portland, Dorset

Closer view of clump in quarry

Yellow flower with cylindrical pod

Brick-red form

Purple form

Orange form