Wallflower 'Tall Mixed'

Bare Root Plants:
Plant your bare root wallflowers as soon as possible after arrival. Before planting, soak the roots in a bucket of cold water for around an hour to rehydrate them after transit.

Choose a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil. Prepare the ground by removing weeds and loosening the soil, incorporating well-rotted garden compost or organic matter if needed.

Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots out naturally without bending or bunching them. Position the plant so the crown, where the roots meet the stems, sits level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, gently firm around the plant to remove any large air pockets, then water thoroughly to settle the roots.

Keep the soil consistently moist while your wallflowers establish, particularly during dry weather, but avoid waterlogged conditions.

A layer of mulch around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch clear of the crown and stems.

Tall wallflowers are at their best in sunny beds and borders, where their upright flower spikes can add height, colour and fragrance to spring planting.

Beds and borders:
Plant in groups or generous drifts for the greatest impact. Their taller growth makes them particularly useful through the middle of a border, with lower-growing spring flowers planted towards the front.

Spring bulb displays:
Wallflowers are classic companions for tulips and daffodils. Plant the bulbs amongst your wallflowers in autumn and they'll grow up through the display in spring, creating layers of flowers at different heights.

Top tip:
Make the most of their fragrance by planting some near a path, doorway or seating area where you'll regularly pass close to the flowers in spring.

Wallflowers and spring bulbs are one of the classic combinations of the spring garden. Their tall flower spikes provide a colourful backdrop while bulbs add contrasting flower shapes amongst them.

Tulips are particularly effective, with their bold flowers rising amongst the wallflowers. Daffodils also work beautifully, while smaller bulbs such as muscari can add another layer of colour closer to the ground.

For colour around the base of the taller plants, add pansies, violas, primroses or Bellis. Their lower-growing habit helps fill the front of the display while allowing the wallflower spikes to stand above them.

Top tip:
With so many colours in 'Tall Mixed', choose bulbs in one or two complementary shades rather than another large colour mix. This helps tie the whole spring display together.

Keep newly planted wallflowers watered during dry weather while their roots establish, but avoid leaving the soil waterlogged.

Check plants after periods of severe winter weather and gently firm them back into the soil if frost has lifted them around the roots.

As flowering gets underway in spring, remove finished flower spikes to keep the plants looking tidy and prevent them putting unnecessary energy into producing seed.

Wallflowers grown for spring bedding are usually removed once their main flowering display has finished, making room for summer bedding and other seasonal plants.

Top tip:
Cut a few flower stems to bring indoors when they're in full bloom. It's a lovely way to enjoy that distinctive wallflower fragrance up close while the remaining plants continue flowering outside.

Bare Root Plants:
Don't be concerned if your bare root plants look different from potted plants when they arrive. They have been field grown before being carefully lifted and supplied without soil during the dormant season.

Bare roots are an economical way to buy larger quantities of plants, making them particularly useful for creating generous displays in beds and borders. Once planted, they'll establish their roots before putting on fresh growth as conditions become favourable.