Short-lived perennial Mediterranean shrublet, traditionally grown as a biennial, with intensely fragrant clusters of yellow, orange, red, or mahogany flowers in mid-spring. A cornerstone cottage-garden bedding plant.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 6–10 | −23.3 °C to 4.4 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H5 | −15 °C to −10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 7–8 | −12 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–5 | −10 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant as spring bedding alongside tulips and forget-me-nots — fragrance carries on warm spring afternoons
- Edible flowers — clove-fragrant, used as salad garnish and in spring cordials
- Strictly biennial in most climates — sow each summer for the following spring display
- Hardy modern cultivar ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ is reliably perennial in mild climates and flowers almost continuously
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Wallflower against your zones