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Another useful and beautiful set of plants.

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I was going to wait until all my Erysimums were in flower before I wrote this blog – but as I have photos of them from previous years, I can show you how lovely they are from those pictures. They’re just beginning to open their blooms now, and they’ll carry on right through the months until the late autumn. There seem to be colours for any colour scheme.

The first one is called ‘Apricot Delight’ (also known as ‘Apricot Twist’).

I wouldn’t want to be without this one – it’s in the back garden in my purple, gold and white borders.

This was taken back in 2008 when I was planting up the new borders.

And last year – with a little white geranium pyrenaicum ‘Summer Snow’ rambling through it.

Also in the back garden I have ’Walbertson’s Fragrant Sunshine’ – what a great name!

And ‘Rysi Bronze’.

I think the most popular Erysimum is ‘Bowles’ Mauve’. They’re in all the Garden Centres at the moment. This plant is very reliable, and hardy too – but like all Erysimums, not very long-lived, so it’s worth taking cuttings in the summer for next year – some plants get woody and unsightly, and need replacing after a couple of years.

One of my favourites is ‘Jenny Brook’. Her flowers aren’t all the same colour – they vary from pink to mauve.

That seems to be a characteristic of many Erysimums – they have several colours on one plant. In fact, the next one I’m going to show you, called ‘Constant Cheer’ actually changed colour from week to week!

This photo was taken at the beginning of May last year.

By the 26th, this is what it looked like!

Other Erysimums in my garden are just as lovely – and some have fascinating names. Why ’Hector’s Gate’ for example?

And ‘Stars and Stripes’?

Some Erysimums,like ’Hector’s Gate’ have variegated leaves, too – the latin name is Erysimum linifolium ’Hector’s Gate’ – or this one, E. linifolium ‘Variegatum’.

And another lovely one – E. l. ‘Purple Peach’.

I was expecting this one to have mauve flowers – so I had a surprise when they opened! I don’t know its full name, I’m afraid.

Are they hardy? Well, yes, most of them are, but I did lose some in the very severe weather we had in the winter. One that didn’t survive, sadly, was E. ‘Little Kiss Lilac’.

You may be thinking that Erysimums look very like Wallflowers – the ones used as bedding plants. Well, yes, they’re close relatives.

i’ve got a few more that I’ve grown from plug plants this year – but although they’ve got buds, I can’t show you what they’re like – yet. I can’t wait to see the flowers, as they’re sure to be different again. I’ve got Erysimum ‘Winter Orchid’ and ‘Winter Sorbet’ for a start. Intriguing names again.

Beautiful, aren’t they! I wouldn’t be without them in my garden.

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Comments

 

that is a very helpful and pretty blog ~ thanks spritz ~ i have 2 new ones this year so i shall try to take the cuttings as you suggested.

21 Mar, 2011

 

It is a revelation to see the variety available from one species, Spritz. I like the fact they can bloom for such a long period...I will see about finding these at the GC...soon I hope!

You've spent valuable time sorting this blog and all the photos...thank you so much. I've favourited it so I can refer back to it....I never retain all the information I find here on GoY!

21 Mar, 2011

 

I`m glad you explained about the wallflowers as that is what I thought some of them were,very pretty Spritz...

21 Mar, 2011

 

Very nice blog. I havent got any of these but after seeing this blog I think its time I got some. Lovely.

22 Mar, 2011

 

these are wonderful plants and apart from a yellow one probably golden ball and Bowles mauve I lost my apricot delight and 2 others :o(

I agree though Spritz a great little group of plants that flower for ages.

22 Mar, 2011

 

You have so many pretty plants in your garden Spritz - it must have taken you ages to build them all up. Your pics are particularly lovely - let's hope you get a good display this year.

22 Mar, 2011

 

I am a big fan Spritz they flower for so long. I will put E. ‘Little Kiss Lilac’ and ‘Hector’s Gate’ on my wish list.

22 Mar, 2011

 

Smashing Blog and lovely photos Spritz, thanks for showing us,

22 Mar, 2011

 

I came looking for rudbekia, but found your lovely blog, what gorgous colours I think I can find room for some of these, although my soil has gone like concrete over the winter, got to do some digging, annoying when its so hard all around the plants. lovely blog spritz.

22 Mar, 2011

 

Well, well, I learned again, truly thought Erysimums were Wallflowers duh!!well I will look for them, my Wallflowers are spectacular in my garden & my Bowles Mauve(4) I had for 7 yrs. But I absolutely shaved all flowers off them as soon as they started getting leggy, & less flowers a lot of work, but they were great. Will post some photos of them. They got huge, and very bushy with a fullness that was great.
Great photos once again. Thx.

22 Mar, 2011

 

Exellent blog and photo's and informative as ever.

22 Mar, 2011

 

lovely blog and pictures barbara, lots of different colour,so pretty ;o)

22 Mar, 2011

 

Thanks, all. I hoped you'd enjoy it and find it useful. :-))

22 Mar, 2011

 

The 'Apricot Delights go really well with your Heucheras Barbara- really nice border colour scheme.

23 Mar, 2011

 

Thanks, Anne. I keep it to the three colours, which is a challenge in itself, but fun too. :-))

23 Mar, 2011

 

What a delightful selection, everyone a winner, we would grow more if we had the room, we grew Bowles mauve for many years, but there are so many lovely ones to buy now, I really, really am running out of room.....but have a cunning plan!!

23 Mar, 2011

 

I might have known it, Dd! <;@D

24 Mar, 2011

 

That border in the second photo is gorgeous, the colours just blend well together. Can you plaese tell me the name of the Huechera and the yellow Daisy? I didn't realise Erysimums, were such pretty plants, but now I do thanks to you!

24 Mar, 2011

 

Yes - the Heuchera is 'Palace Purple' and the daisy is a Doronicum 'Little Leo'. I'm glad you know about Erysimums now. :-))

Thanks for the compliment.

24 Mar, 2011

 

I'm definitely, going to have some of those 'Apricot twist' the 'purple peach' & 'Constant Cheer'. Can you tell me please, which nursery you use for those? What a pity 'Little Kiss Lilac' didn't survive. It has even less chance here!

24 Mar, 2011

 

You'll find Apricot Delight/Twist in most GCs. As for the others, I think your best bet is the RHS Plantfinder. There's an enormous selection of them! I expect you'll find a Nursery in your area. :-)

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=Erysimum&Genus=Erysimum

26 Mar, 2011

 

Thank You!

26 Mar, 2011

 

Aren't they lovely Spritz. I've bought eight recently, most variegated apart from bowles mauve. I was so pleased to find them on Walsall market...4 for a fiver! They're just starting to flower now. I had to get them home on the bus. I'll put a pic on soon:-)

26 Mar, 2011

 

That was a fantastic price, Ba. Well done you. :-)

26 Mar, 2011

 

I would love to find Erysimum here in France after seeing your lovely photos and reading the descriptions. the trouble is, the Garden Centres don't use latin names much and unless a plant is in bloom and I know it, it is so difficult with the French names unless they are similar....Pensee (Pansy)...Oeillet d'inde is a Marigold :-)

27 Mar, 2011

 

Hi Troddles, try giroflees, accent on first e. They are certainly wallflowers:-)

27 Mar, 2011

 

They might be the non-hardy biennial ones though, Ba.

I have no idea of the French for 'Erysimum' Troddles - I am sorry. Maybe if your GCs are anything like ours, and sell 'Bowles Mauve' you could look at the plant label?

27 Mar, 2011

 

Brilliant collection Spritz. I didnt know there were so many. Have had Bowles Mauve and Apricot Twist and bought Winter Orchid this year. Must look out for the others. Lovely blog and great colour schemes...as always!

27 Mar, 2011

 

Thanks Tetra - please could you tell me where you got 'Winter Orchid'? That's one that the mail-order Nursery wasn't able to send me. :-(

28 Mar, 2011

 

Bought it from ebay Spritz. They dont have it listed any longer, but Im glad I looked because there are two others, Winter Rouge and Winter Sorbet!

28 Mar, 2011

 

My 'Winter Sorbet' is in bloom - I got that from the RHS offer. I'll post its photo.

What a shame about 'Winter Orchid' though. :-(

28 Mar, 2011

 

I will see how mine grows on this year as it was only a plug so still small. I may be able to strike some cuttings later. If successful I will send you one. Oh, by the bye, I am sat in the office with a tray of Lychnis seeds in the window..Dusky Pink..and the tray is starting to look very green! Thanks Spritz
(mind you its one thing to have a tray of growing seeds..its a long way to a flower in the garden, but with luck I wont damp them off or kill them some other way lol!)

28 Mar, 2011

 

Thanks, Tetra - that would be very kind. I'm pleased about your seedlings. I hope they'll thrive! :-))))

29 Mar, 2011

 

Spritz, if you type in erysimum winter orchid in google search box you'll find quite a few places have them including Hayloft and Sarah Ravens (in case you are impatient) Hello Tet \0/ :-)

29 Mar, 2011

 

You know me so well, Ba. LOL. Ta muchly. :-))

29 Mar, 2011

 

Hi BA, thought you had gone on a retreat! Im pretty impatient too, and get all excited over a new range of plants. Cant wait to see all the different varieties available, and then I realised...I dont have enough space!

29 Mar, 2011

 

I've bought loads..of everything:-)

30 Mar, 2011

 

Naturally! lol.

30 Mar, 2011

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