How to grow wallflowers from seed

Wallflowers, Latin name Erysimum, are easy to grow, can be sown direct and will do well in most soils, but thrive in alkaline types. Many varieties are both fragrant and beautiful and range from delicate pastel blooms and bright yellow shades to rich earthy hues, their petals are often likened to velvet for their unusual texture.

For maximum impact, sow the seeds - or plant your plugs - in drifts rather than scattering it between other flowers, to give blocks of colour. When the weather warms up in spring, dead-head each plant so that they keep flowering (otherwise, they will run to seed).

If you don't have a greenhouse in which to cultivate wallflowers from seeds, see Thompson & Morgan's selection for a range of different plants to buy.

For more wallflower inspiration, Sarah Raven discusses the range of colours her garden displays and the key to success with the plant.