Wallflower, the flower that brightens spring

Matthiola incana, the scientific name of the wallflower

The wallflower It is one of those plants that can be found for sale in any nursery, garden store and even online at almost any time of the year. Why? Well, there is no single answer: it is very easy to care for, it resists cold, it is easily multiplied by seeds, and it is also very decorative.

Whether it is in a pot or in the garden, I’m sure it will give you many joys. Anyway, if you have doubts about how you should take care of it, don’t stop reading.

Origin and characteristics

View of the Matthiola incana or wallflower plant

Image – Wikimedia Commons / David J. Stang

Our protagonist is a perennial herbaceous plant -rarely annual- native to southern Europe, specifically from the Balearic archipelago to Yugoslavia. Its scientific name is Matthiola Incanaand popularly known as alelí, wallflower, winter wallflower, ashtray jasmine, white violet or purple violet. It develops erect stems, quite branched, that reach a height between 20 and 80cm. From them sprout whole, lanceolate leaves with a short petiole.

The flowers, which appear in spring (from April to June in the northern hemisphere), can be single or double, in colors ranging from pink, to blue, through white and red. The seeds are 2-3mm long and have a whitish wing.

How do you take care of yourself?

If you want to get a copy, we recommend providing the following care:

Location

So that your wallflower can be fine, it needs to be placed outsidein a sunny exposure.

Earth

Black peat, substrate for wallflowers

  • Flower pot: it is not necessary to complicate much. With the universal substrate that they sell already prepared in any nursery or here! It is more than enough.
  • the garden: it is indifferent, but it will root better – and therefore will have a better development – if the land is fertile and has good drainage.

Irrigation

The frequency of irrigation will depend on the season of the year in which we are as well as the climate in the area. But to have a guide you should know that you have to water more often during the months when it does not rain much or not at all, and less in the rainy season.

But … how often? So so, about 3-4 times a week in summer and a little less the rest of the year. If you have it planted in a pot with a plate underneath, remember, especially in autumn and winter, to remove any excess water ten minutes after watering, otherwise its root system would rot.

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Throughout the growing season, that is, from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, it is highly recommended to fertilize it with a liquid fertilizerlike this one here!, following the indications specified on the product packaging.

Planting or transplanting time

You can plant your wallflower in the garden or move it to a larger pot in spring, as soon as the risk of frost has passed.

Pests

Aphids can affect wallflowers

It can be affected by the following pests:

  • Aphids: they are very small insects that measure about 0,5cm in color green, yellow or brown. They perch on the most tender leaves and flowers, from where they feed. To control them, the ideal is to place yellow sticky traps (you can buy them here!) near the plant.
  • Larvae of The plate of the pen: they excavate galleries in the leaves and little by little they attack the entire specimen. They are fought with specific insecticides, such as this.
  • Caterpillar Pieris cabbage: the cabbage caterpillar eats the leaves. It can be fought with the insecticide recommended above.
  • Cruciferous bugs: they sting the leaves. They are fought with specific insecticides.

Diseases

It can be affected by the following:

  • Root hernia: it is a fungus that forms elongated tumors in the root system of plants, causing them to yellow, weaken and finally die due to the attack of other microorganisms. There is no treatment: the specimen must be uprooted and burned, in addition to disinfecting the soil, for example by solarization, before planting another one.
  • Botrytis: it is a fungus that is manifested by the appearance of a grayish powder on the leaves. It is fought with fungicides such as zineb.
  • Mildew: it is a fungus that causes the appearance of yellow spots that turn brown on the underside of the leaves. Over time, in humid environments, white mold forms. It is fought with fungicides.
  • Virus: they are viruses that cause the appearance of mosaics on the leaves. There is no cure.

Multiplication

The wallflower multiplies by seeds in spring-summer. For it, proceed as follows:

  1. The first thing to do is fill a pot of about 10,5cm in diameter with universal growing substrate.
  2. Afterwards, a maximum of 3 seeds are placed in the container, as far apart as they can be, and covered with a thin layer of substrate.
  3. Finally, it is watered and the pot is placed outside, in full sun or in semi-shade.

The first will germinate in about 7-14 days.

Rusticity

Withstands cold and frost up to -4ºC without being damaged.

What is the meaning of the wallflower flower?

Wallflower, a flower very easy to care for

There are many flowers that, depending on their color, have a unique meaning. The wallflower could not be less: if the flower is yellow, it symbolizes fidelity; if it is white, peace and simplicity; and if it is purple it represents permanent beauty.

What did you think of the wallflower? Do you have in your garden or patio?

Wallflower, the flower that brightens spring

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