Erysimum cheiri 'Ruby Gem'

RHS Plant Profile
wallflower 'Ruby Gem'

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Herbaceous Perennial Annual Biennial

An evergreen short-lived perennial usually grown as a biennial, with a bushy, upright habit and narrow, dark green leaves. Clusters of fragrant flowers, opening fiery red and maturing to deep crimson, are produced at the tips of the stems from spring into summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Columnar upright
Genus
Erysimum can be annuals, biennials or woody-based perennials with narrow leaves and dense racemes of often fragrant, 4-petalled flowers
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny position in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. Usually grown as a biennial, plant out at the end of summer for flowers the following year

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by softwood cuttings in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Trim after flowering to prevent plants becoming leggy

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, cabbage root fly and flea beetles

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, club root, leaf spot, root rot and virus diseases