When to plant wallflowers? It's likely the question on the lips of anyone who's fallen for one of the best wallflowers available, as these pretty cottage garden plants pack a serious punch come springtime.
Perfect for bringing garden border ideas to life, wallflowers are, as a rule, easy to grow. They can thrive in a variety of conditions, too, making them an ideal addition to even a shady north-facing garden.
That being said, it's not so much the how as it is the when with growing wallflowers, as you have to time things exactly right.
'Wallflowers typically bloom in spring, so planting them in autumn gives them the time they need to properly establish,' explains Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.
Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. He established the thriving business in 1992, shortly after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex.
Still, while you can buy bare-root wallflower plants for autumn planting, you're much better off starting them from seed. And, if you want to sow seeds successfully, you'll need to roll back the calendar a few pages to late spring.
'You should sow biennial wallflower seeds between May-July and then plant them out in September-October,' explains Morris.
'Doing so will give the roots time to establish before the first frost arrives, helping your wallflowers to survive over the cold winter months.'
The same rule applies if you're trying to determine when to plant wallflowers in containers, explains Christopher O'Donoghue, co-director at Gardens Revived, who promises that they're among the easiest spring bulbs to grow in pots.
An RHS-trained gardener with almost two decades of experience under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018 to create a thriving family business. Together, they have worked on residential gardens, listed buildings and gardens, flower shows and large estates with some exceeding 70 acres – many with historical significance.
'If you really want them to pop, try potting up your young wallflower plants with tulip bulbs in late October or early November,' he suggests.
Picking up something like the Parisian Chic Tulip and Wallflower Collection from Sarah Raven seen above, then, is the ideal way to create a vibrant spring display.
FAQs
What month do you plant wallflowers?
While you should always check the variety you're working with, it's best to plant wallflower seeds undercover in February-March (or sow outside in April-May when there's no chance of frost).
Young plants can be moved to their final position in autumn to flower the following year, whether you've started them from seeds or have purchased bare root wallflowers/plug plants.
What if you're late planting wallflowers?
Ideally, you want to get your young wallflower plants in the ground by the autumn.
'Planting later than this could mean you don't get as many flowers blooming in your first year so your garden won't look as colourful,' says Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries.
Now that you know when to plant wallflowers, we suggest you set to work quickly and get your favourite erysimum varieties in the ground, stat! You'll be glad you've put the work in come springtime next year...
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