Wallflower is also called scented stock and hua'erhua

Scientific name: Cheiranthus cheiri

Category: Flowering ornamental

Aliases: scented stock, hua'erhua

Morphological features:

Brassicaceae, annual or biennial herb.

Plant height 30-60cm, stems erect, much branched, base semi-lignified. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, apex acute, margin entire. Raceme terminal, flower diameter 2.0-2.5cm, petals nearly round, with long claws, flower color orange-yellow or yellow-brown, fragrant.

Flowering period April-June. Fruit is a silique.

Growth habit:

Cold-tolerant. Prefers sunny sites, cool and dry climates, and well-drained, loose, fertile soil. Fears waterlogging and dislikes heat; grows poorly with excessive rain.

Propagated by sowing or cuttings.

Wallflower cultivation and management are relatively extensive; generally after planting, keep the soil moist, and apply a dilute liquid fertilizer about once every 3 weeks. After flowering in early spring, prune off the faded flower branches, promptly apply 1-2 applications of quick-acting liquid fertilizer, water frequently, and encourage rapid growth, so that it can bloom again in September-October. It can also be sown in spring and summer, potted and moved indoors before winter for cultivation, and then it can bloom in early winter.

There are about 10 species in the same genus; commonly cultivated is seven-mile yellow C. alionii, a biennial or perennial herbaceous flower, plant height 30-40 cm. Leaves alternate, lanceolate. Terminal raceme, flowers bright yellow. Flowering period May.

Garden use:

Wallflower is an excellent material for early spring flower beds and flower borders, and can also be grown in pots for ornamental display.

The seeds can be used to extract industrial oil; the flowers can be used to extract fragrance and can also be used medicinally.