Plant Data Sheet

Species (common name, Latin name)

Coastal wallflower, Erysimum capitatum

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to Indiana, south to Texas and California.

Climate, elevation

Found in many habitats from southern British Columbia to California at 750 - 3600 metres. Open dry flats and hillsides, from the lowest valleys to about 3,000 metres in the mountains.

Local occurrence (where, how common)

Olympic peninsula and Eastern Washington.

Habitat preferences

Cultivated Beds, Walls

Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)

Terrestrial.

Associated species

Cheiranthus angustatus, Cheiranthus asper Cheirinia aspera, E. amoenum, E. angustatum, E. arkansanum, E. asperum var. amoenum, E. asperum var. angustatum, E. asperum var. arkansanum, E. asperum var. capitatum, E. capitatum ssp. Angustatum, E. capitatum var. amoenum, E. capitatum var. angustatum, E. capitatum var. capitatum, E. capitatum var. stellatum, E. capitatum var. washoense, E. elatum, E. moniliforme, E. nivale, E. wheeleri.

May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)

Propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Grow seeds outdoor or take cuttings in midspring.

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Germination usually takes place within 3 weeks.

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Poor germination after one year of storage. Short shelf life.

Recommended seed storage conditions

Plant within the first year

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Seed - sow spring in an outdoor seedbed. Plant the seedlings into their permanent positions when they are large enough to handle.

If seed is in short supply, it can be sown in spring in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.

Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Installation form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)

Container plants grown from seed or cutting in midspring.

Recommended planting density

Spacing 4”-10” apart.

Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)

Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position. Deadhead regularly and mulch in autumn.

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Grows to 1 foot a year and then dies back until next year.

Sources cited

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Erysimum+capitatum&CAN=LATIND

http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=Erysimum+capitatum+seed+longevity&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t394&x=wrt&u=www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/explant/summinfo.htm&w=erysimum+capitatum+seed+longevity&d=OhgfX0aqMtpc&icp=1&.intl=us

Powell E. 1994. From Seed to Bloom. Erysimum capitatum. Pownal, Vermont. A Garden Way Publishing Book. Pg. 125

Data compiled by Steven Campbell 5-08-06