Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Annual BiennialBedding

Erysimum cheiri 'Fire King'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A short-lived, evergreen perennial to about 50cm, usually grown as a biennial. Woody-based stems are clothed in narrow, dark green leaves and topped with clusters of fragrant, rich orange-red flowers in mid- to late spring

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Orange Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Erysimum can be annuals, biennials or woody-based perennials with narrow leaves and dense racemes of often fragrant, 4-petalled flowers

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, preferableyalkaline soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a seed bed from late spring to early summer, transplanting to flowering positions in mid-autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and flea beetles

Diseases

Susceptible to a range of diseases including club root, downy mildews, leaf spot, root rot and a virus

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.