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Alpine Wallflower

Erysimum linifolium (er-RIS-ih-mum lin-ih-FOH-lee-um)

Family: Brassicaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

This flowering wallflower is an evergreen perennial in the mustard or cabbage family (Brassicaceae) and is native to Spain and Portugal. It is found growing on slopes in sandy or rocky soils. Genus name comes from the Greek word eryomai meaning blistercress. Linifolum translates to 'flax-like leaves', referring to these plants' leaves resembling those in the flax genus It is a perennial often grown as an annual in poor to average well-drained drier soils in full sun to patial shade. It has fewer disease problems if grown in full sun. The plants will grow 1 foot tall and wide with a mat-forming habit. Space 1-2 feet apart. In spite of being a perennial the plant does best if used as an annual or biennial as it tends to get leggy in subsequent years. The lavender flowers appear in late spring and bloom through summer providing months of color. Cultivars offer a broader range of flower colors. The narrow lanceolate leaves are evergreen and attractive. Use this plant in the border front, a rock garden, a cottage garden, cascading over a rock wall or a container. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Issues with aphids, spider mites, snails and slugs can occur, as well as rust downy and powdery mildew.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 49 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Echinopsis oxygona Salvia rosmarinus x Heucherella

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Herbaceous Perennial
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Prostrate
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lanceolate to linear green leaves are up to 3 inches long.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Terminal clusters of lilac to purple flowers appear in late spring to summer. Individual flowers have four petals and are 3/4 inch across
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
North Portugal to North Western & Central Spain
Wildlife value
Flowers attract humming birds and butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#broadleaf evergreen #broadleaf #evergreen #rocky soils tolerant #showy #showy flowers #dry soils tolerant #shallow soil tolerant #lavender flowers #container plant #border front #long bloom time
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants; Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Problems
Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Rabbits
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.