Plant Overview
An old favourite, grown by E.A. Bowles in his famous garden at Myddelton House in the late 1800's. Sturdy green bushes with fragrant mauve flowers from late spring to late summer. A most reliable and robust perennial wallflower.
Called perennial wallflower because they are much longer lived than their traditional bedding-plant cousins. Valuable in spring and early summer, when they are covered in typical wallflower flowers. Trim back after flowering to prevent them becoming woody, and you may be rewarded with a second flush of flowers.
Height and spread: 60 x 45cm
Myth and Legend
In the 12th century, Troubadours would wear a sprig of wallflower to signify that their love survive time and misfortune. It is said that this is as a result of seeing the plant growing on the ruins of fallen towers, the rather romantic image of beauty and fragrance amonst desolation.
In Palestine, the wallflower is known as the 'blood drops of Christ'. It was introduced to Britain some 300 years ago, although some sources claim that it was originally introduced by the Romans.
Dreaming of wallflowers is said to be a sign to those in love that their sweetheart will be true to them.
Common name(s): Perennial Wallflower, Blister Cress, Hedge Mustard.
Photograph Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
