Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Erysimum' seeds

Part of the Kew Pollinators seed range, developed with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this vibrant Wallflower blend is a true cottage garden favourite, producing a rich tapestry of colour even on the poorest of soils. Grown more commonly as a biennial despite being a short-lived perennial, it's brilliant paired with spring bulbs at the front of beds and borders, where its bright, nectar-rich blooms provide an early, valuable source of food for pollinating insects at a time of year when little else is flowering. Compact and easy-going, it works just as well tucked into rock gardens and containers as it does massed through a border, bringing colour from early spring right through to the end of the flowering season. As an added bonus for anyone growing edible or foraging-friendly gardens, the tender young shoots can also be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Growing guide

Sow from spring into pots or trays of moist seed compost, covering with a very light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite — don't exclude light, as it helps germination, which usually takes 7–14 days. Seal the container inside a polythene bag at 10–15°C. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow on in cooler conditions until sturdy enough to plant outdoors in September or October, spacing plants 30cm apart in their final positions. Alternatively, sow direct outdoors thinly at 1.5mm deep in drills 30cm apart. Once plants reach around 13cm tall, pinch out the growing point to encourage bushier growth. Erysimum is wonderfully tolerant of most neutral or alkaline soils, coping well even on very poor ground. Flowers from March to May, reaching up to 45cm tall with a 30cm spread.