Wallflower Fire King

Erysimum cheiri 'Fire King' Fiery Orange Wallflower 'Fire King'

Vibrant deep fiery-orange Wallflower blooms with the legendary clove-and-spice fragrance that hangs in the air on still spring days — Wallflower 'Fire King' is the dramatic warm-toned cottage biennial that smells like a spice market and provides essential early-spring colour and bumblebee forage from March through May.

This is the cottage Wallflower for serious warm-tone drama. 'Fire King' produces dense spikes of small four-petalled flowers in a vibrant deep fiery-orange that brings serious warm-tone impact to the early-spring border. But the colour is only half the appeal — 'Fire King' carries the rich heady Wallflower perfume of honey, clove and spice, the legendary fragrance that defines the genus. Hardy biennial (H5). RHS Plants for Pollinators — vital for queen bumblebees emerging from winter hibernation. Compact bushy 30–40cm habit. Flowers March through May.

A note on growing

Standard Wallflower cultivation following the two-year biennial cycle:

• Sow May/June/July in nursery bed outdoors or in pots
• Pinch growing tip at 15cm to stop legginess and force bushy growth
• Transplant to final flowering position October, planting firmly to withstand winter wind
• Flowers March/April/May the following year

Wallflowers are easy to raise in a "nursery bed" or pots outdoors during their first year.

⚠️ Toxicity note: all parts are poisonous if ingested. Wear gloves when handling.

Where it shines

In cottage borders for serious warm-tone spring drama — 'Fire King' provides the deep orange that few other spring plants match, against the cooler greens of emerging perennials. As underplanting for spring bulbs — particularly outstanding with deep purple Tulip 'Queen of Night' (designer favourite) or with cream/yellow tulips for warm tonal layering. Near paths and doorways where the fragrance can be appreciated. In wildlife gardens for the high early-spring bumblebee value. As cut flowers for warm-toned spring posies.

Plant alongside

The designer-favourite combination: pair 'Fire King' with Tulip 'Queen of Night' (deep almost-black purple) — the moody dark tulip against the hot orange Wallflower is a striking colour contrast that's become a designer staple. For the "citrus mix" cottage scheme, plant alongside Wallflower 'Cloth of Gold' for a vibrant warming display of yellow and orange that smells like a spice market. With Forget-me-not 'Blue' for cool contrast at ground level.