How to grow and care for wallflowers

The perennial wallflowers aren’t grown from seed but are grown from cuttings taken in summer from the current year’s growth. It is possible to take cuttings from bedding wallflowers but this usually isn’t necessary as plants are cheap to grow or buy and usually perform better. Take cuttings around 7.5-10cm (3-4in) long, cutting just below a leaf joint or node. Heel cuttings (carefully pulling off the cutting with a piece of stem or ‘heel’ at the base) will often give better results. Prepare pots of suitable cuttings compost and water it well. Remove the leaves from the lower half to two-thirds of the stem and insert the stems up to the base of the leaves, spacing cuttings so the leaves don’t touch. Place the pot in a plastic bag or in a propagator and place somewhere warm to root that has good light but is out of direct sunlight.

Pot up plants individually once they have rooted and grow them on until they are big enough to plant out.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Flower beds and borders, patios, containers, city and courtyard gardens, cottage, informal gardens and bedding displays.

How to care for wallflowers

Keep the soil or compost moist, especially when plants are flowering. Regular liquid feeds will help prolong the flowering period.

Deadheading plants and removing the developing seedpod may prolong flowering of bedding wallflowers.

After flowering cut back perennial wallflowers to keep them compact. This, along with liquid feeds, will also help encourage further flushes of flowers well into autumn.