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Erysimum

(Genus)

Overview

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The genus Erysimum (wallflowers) includes more than 220 species, both popular garden plants and many wild forms. They are small, annual, short-lived perennial herbs or sub-shrubs, reaching 10-130 cm tall, with bright yellow to red or pink flowers produced throughout the spring and summer. One species, Erysimum semperflorens, native to Morocco and Algeria, has white flowers. Wallflowers have t-shaped trichomes.

The genus Cheiranthus is sometimes included herein whole or in part.

Distribution

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Wallflowers are native to southwest Asia, the Mediterranean region, Europe, Macaronesia, and North America. Many wallflowers are endemic to small areas, such as the Teide wallflower E. scoparium, endemic to the Teide volcano on Tenerife, the Franciscan wallflower E. franciscanum, endemic to the northern California coast, the Sierra Nevada wallflower E. nevadense, endemic to the Sierra Nevada of Spain, E. moranii from Guadalupe Island (Mexico), and the endangered Santa Cruz wallflower E. teretifolium, endemic to the inland sandhills of Santa Cruz County, California. Erysimum kykkoticum, found only on Cyprus, is nearly extinct.

Ecology

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Erysimum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata). In addition, some species of weevils, like Ceutorhynchus chlorophanus, live inside the fruits feeding on the developing seeds. Many species of beetles, bugs and grasshoppers eat on the leaves and stalks. Mammalian herbivores, for example Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica), feed on wallflower flowering and fruiting stalks.

Wallflowers are pollinator-generalists, their flowers being visited by many different species of bees, bee flies, hoverflies, butterflies, beetles, and ants.

Selected species

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Cultivation

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Most wallflower garden cultivars (e.g. Erysimum 'Chelsea Jacket') are derived from E. cheiri (often placed in Cheiranthus), from southern Europe. Growth is best in dry soils with very good drainage, and they are often grown successfully in loose wall mortar, hence the vernacular name. Their flowers are often purple or brown.

Taxonomy

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The Genus Erysimum is further organized into finer groupings including:

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 14:44:11