WALLFLOWER

They may be called wallflowers, but for early-season bloom, these biennials and perennials are belles of the ball. All have the clustered, four-petaled flowers typical of the plants in the brassica (mustard) family, but their habits and uses differ widely. In the South, usually grown as cool-season annuals.

• Perennial in Zones US, MS; USDA 6-7, but usually grown as a biennial or an annual.
• From southern Europe.
• Branching, woody-based plants to 1212 feet high, 1112 feet wide, with narrow, bright green leaves and broad clusters of showy, sweet-scented flowers in spring.
• Blossoms are yellow, cream, orange, red, brown, or burgundy, sometimes shaded or veined with contrasting color.
• Sow seeds in spring for bloom the following year (some strains flower the first year if seeded early); or set out plants in fall or earliest spring.
• May self-sow.
• Regular water.

• tall and not quite as wide) that don't need winter chill to induce flowering; set out in spring for fall bloom.
• Selections include soft yellow 'Charity Cream', golden yellow 'Charity Yellow', and dusty rose 'Charity Rose'.

• Perennials.
• Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
• Many excellent choices available.
• Most popular is 'Bowles Mauve', 3 feet high and 46 feet wide, with narrow gray-green leaves held on erect stems, each topped by a 112 feet-long, narrow, spikelike cluster of mauve flowers.
• Often begins blooming in midwinter, continuing until hot weather begins in May.
• Often short-lived.
• Compact Bowles Mauve is about half the size.
• Lemon Zest grows 812 inches high and wide, with pale to lemon-yellow blooms in early spring.
• Moonlight has bright yellow owers that open from red buds.
• Sweet Sorbet has lilac-pink flowers on a 1418 inches plant.
• Wenlock Beauty grows 2 feet high and wide, with springtime flowers varying from buff to purple in a single spike.
• All these hybrids take moderate water.

• Short-lived perennial in Zones US, MS, and LS, often treated as an annual; USDA 6-8.
• Light green leaves form 6 inches mats from which rise scented, deep yellow owers on 2 inches stems in spring.
• Moderate water.
• Use in rock garden or with other small perennials between paving stones.
• If plants hump up, cut out central portions, transplant them, and press original plants at again.
• Divide clumps in fall.

• Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
• Shrubby growth to 2 feet high, 23 feet wide.
• Prized for its narrow, 312 inches-long leaves, which are gray-green and edged in creamy white.
• Mauve flowers about 12 inches across appear from spring to fall.
• Moderate water.

• Perennial, often grown as biennial or annual.
• Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
• Branching plants 1112 feet high and somewhat wider are covered in spring with fragrant flowers in rich orange or yellow.
• In mild-winter climates, sow seeds in fall; elsewhere, sow in spring for well-established plants by fall.
• Full sun, moderate water.
• Golden Bedder has golden yellow flowers.