Erysimum cheiri Colour Vibe Orange - Perennial wallflower

Erysimum 'Colour Vibe Orange' is a perennial wallflower in a very bright orange that awakens spring borders with its clusters of fragrant, radiant flowers. Its generous flowering, good performance in sun, lovely upright habit and natural disease resistance quickly make it indispensable in the garden or in a pot. This variety is hardy down to –7 °C, adapts easily to well-drained soils, even poor and dry ones, and requires little maintenance.

‘Colour Vibe Orange’ (Erysimum ‘Colour Vibe Orange’ (Cdcery2) PP 36 457) is a perennial wallflower in the Brassicaceae family, derived from the species Erysimum cheiri (formerly Cheiranthus cheiri). This cultivar is part of the Colour Vibe series, originating from a breeding programme led by Charles Carr, aimed at achieving long, fragrant flowerings and bright colours that do not fade. This variety was shortlisted for the RHS Trial at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2023.
The plant has an upright, compact and well-branched habit. It reaches between 50–70cm in height and spread, depending on growing conditions. It produces large flowers gathered in dense clusters, of an intense orange, emerging from purplish buds.  The fragrant flowering can begin as early as March and continues until June. Its leaves are large, dark green, with a silvery sheen. The foliage is evergreen in winter.
This Erysimum is a herbaceous perennial plant, but is often grown as a biennial or a short-lived perennial, mostly due to its sensitivity to winter moisture. In mild climates and well-drained soil, however, it can behave as a true perennial and faithfully rebloom for several seasons.

Erysimum ‘Colour Vibe Orange’ fits into contemporary or naturalistic settings. It grows very well in a pot, allowing easy control of watering and nutrition. Its orange colour combines happily with spring blooms of daffodils, jonquils, tulips in orange, red or yellow or fritillaries 'crown imperials'. It naturally associates with early biennials or perennials in warm or complementary tones: primroses, forget-me-nots, aubrietas... For a more structured display, it can be associated with grasses such as evergreen sedges or a few plants of Stipa tenuifolia.