Wallflower 'Cloth of Gold' Seeds
If you could bottle the smell of a cottage garden in April, it would smell like Wallflowers. 'Cloth of Gold' is a heritage variety that lives up to its name, producing dense, velvety spikes of rich, golden-yellow blooms that glow against fresh green foliage.
This is the plant that wakes up the garden. Blooming from March to May, it provides vital colour and an incredibly sweet, honey-clove fragrance just as the days start to lengthen. It is the classic partner for tulips, creating that thick, carpeted look seen in grand country estates, but is equally at home in a pot by the back door.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Wallflowers are classic Biennials.
They operate on a two-year schedule. You sow them in late spring/summer of Year 1, they grow leaves through autumn, and then bloom the following spring (Year 2).
The Routine: Sow seeds in May/June/July. They grow into small leafy bushes by autumn. You transplant them to their final flowering position in October (planting them firmly to withstand winter wind). They bloom spectacularly the following March/April/May.
Top Tip: Pinch out the growing tip when the plants are 15cm tall. This stops them getting leggy and forces them to bush out, giving you more flower spikes.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Wallflowers are easy to raise in a "nursery bed" or pots outdoors.
Germination:
Sow outdoors from May to July. Scatter seeds thinly into a prepared seedbed or pots outdoors. Cover lightly (5mm deep). Keep moist. Germination is reliable and takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. They love well-drained, alkaline soil (they dislike acid soil). Adding some garden lime or grit to the planting hole can help them thrive.
Care While Growing:
The Autumn Move: In October, move your plants to their final positions (borders or containers). Plant them firmly—press the soil down hard around the roots so they don't rock in winter gales.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Erysimum cheiri |
| Common Name | Wallflower 'Cloth of Gold' |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy Biennial) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 40cm - 50cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | 🌷 Tulip Companion 👃 Incredible Scent 🐝 Early Bees ✂️ Spring Bouquets |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Wallflowers bloom in spring, so they need partners that are awake at the same time. The golden yellow pairs beautifully with blues and purples:
- ☁️ Forget-me-not 'Blue': The classic carpet. The low-growing, sky-blue Forget-me-nots provide a stunning contrast to the tall, golden spikes of the Wallflower. It creates a cheerful, high-energy spring display.
- 💜 Honesty (Lunaria annua): The royal mix. Honesty blooms at exactly the same time (April/May). The vibrant purple flowers of the Honesty contrast magnificently with the bright yellow of 'Cloth of Gold' for a classic complementary colour scheme.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in summer. Plant out in autumn. Flowers the following spring.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers (Yr 2) | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Pest Warning
Wallflowers are members of the Brassica (cabbage) family. This means they can be eaten by the caterpillars of the Cabbage White Butterfly. Check leaves regularly in late summer and pick off any caterpillars you find.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Wallflowers are one of the most important plants for early pollinators. They are listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list as a critical nectar source for queen bumblebees in spring.
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£2.05 - Regular price
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£2.05
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