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Wallflower
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Wallflower

Erysimum cheiri

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameWallflower
DescriptionCharming old-fashioned biennial or short-lived perennial treasured for its intensely fragrant spring flowers that perfume the garden with scents hovering between honey and Parma violets. Named for its ability to thrive in cracks and crevices of stone walls, producing cheerful clusters of four-petaled blooms in warm shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple from April to May. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, this compact, bushy plant brings both color and delightful fragrance to rock gardens, borders, and wall plantings.
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusErysimum
TribeErysimeae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ☿ K4 C4 A2+4 G(2)

Ebracteate (no bracts), Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical), bisexual, 4 free sepals in cross formation, 4 free petals in cross formation, 6 stamens (4 long + 2 short, tetradynamous), 2 fused carpels with superior ovary typical of Brassicaceae

Features
  • Name 'Wallflower' from its habit of growing on brick and stone walls in small pockets of soil. 'Erysimum' from Greek 'eryomai' meaning to draw or help, referring to medicinal uses. 'Cheiri' from Arabic 'kheyri' meaning fragrant. Formerly called Cheiranthus cheiri
  • Four-petaled cross-shaped flowers 0.75-1 inch (2 cm) across arranged in club-shaped clusters at stem tips. Colors include yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. Intensely fragrant with scent described as honey mixed with Parma violet. Blooms April-May, sometimes into summer
  • Biennial or short-lived perennial often grown as biennial. Seeds sown in summer bloom following spring. If sown early in spring, may bloom same year as annual. Woody-based subshrub with narrow, pointed bright green leaves 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long
  • Grows 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall, sometimes to 30 inches (75 cm). Lifespan of 2-5 years as perennial, typically grown as biennial. Propagated by seeds or cuttings. Stems become woody at base with age
  • Native to southern Europe, particularly Greece and Mediterranean region. Wild forms have golden yellow flowers. Naturalized in parts of North America and other temperate regions. Thrives in rocky, well-drained locations including old walls and cliffs
  • Requires full sun to light shade with excellent drainage. Tolerates poor, rocky, and limey (alkaline) soils. Prefers sharp drainage, especially for winter survival. In hot climates benefits from afternoon shade. Hardy zones 6-9 depending on cultivar and drainage
  • Excellent nectar source for bees and other pollinators in early spring. Historically used in traditional medicine for heart conditions, though large doses toxic due to cardiotonic compounds. Edible flowers sometimes used as garnish, but caution advised
  • Ideal for rock gardens, raised beds, wall plantings, and border fronts where drainage is excellent. Cut flowers for fragrant bouquets. Deadhead to prolong blooming. May self-seed. In cold climates, mulch lightly for winter protection. Short-lived but easily replaced from seed

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificErysimum cheiri
English (Alternate)Erysimum, Western Wallflower, Siberian Wallflower, Coast Wallflower, Douglas' Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Prairie rocket
Hindiवाल फ़्लावर (Wallflower), भित्ति पुष्प (Bhitti Pushp), वलफ्लोवेर (valaflovēr)
Tamilகொத்து மலர் (koththu malar), எரிசிமம் (Erysimum)
Teluguగోడ పూలు (Goda poolu)
Malayalamമതിലിൽ വളരുന്ന പൂവ് (mathilil valarunna poovu)
Kannadaಸಿಗ್ಗುಳ್ಳ (sigguḷḷa), ಕನಕಾಂಬರ (Kanakambara)
Sanskritकलंजनी (Kalanjani)
Bengaliচন্দ্র মল্লিকা (Chandramollika), রজনীগন্ধা (Rajnigandha)
Frenchgiroflée
Russianжелтофиоль (zheltofeOLE), левкой (levKOY)
Spanishalhelí, alelí
GermanMauerblümchen

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.