What is the life span of Erysimum

Hi Casandra, I'm no expert but I had a Bowles Mauve that lasted three years before dying off. It flowered continuously throughout that time, too, even right through the winter. I don't know if I was just lucky, perhaps it really liked the position it was in. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me can give you a more definite answer.

I have Bowles Mauve which is three years old now, still going strong. I'm hoping it might give me one more year.

Take some cuttings. The life span is always short, but dry hard conditions prolong life. They will grow well in a Wall. and need to be in a sunny well drained soil without much food.

Cuttings should be taken every year as the plants get leggy before expiring after about 3 years or so.

Ah, so it seems that my Bowles Mauve was about average then. Hope my current newly planted one does as well as the last one! Good luck with yours.

What I also forgot to ask is, can I cut them back to ground level at the end of the season or would it be best to leave them as they are, at the moment they have grown to about 2-3 ft and we are only half way through summer, one more question, I think I will need to move them to a better position in the border for next year, I didn't realise they grew that big and I think they will look better positioned further back in the border, do Erysimum mind being moved about or should I leave them were they are, I appreciate all your replies and advice, Thanks

I myself am wondering whether Erysimum, when it expires of its life expectancy (at about three years or so), dies quickly and suddenly or by means of a slow and gradual decline. Does anybody know?

Casandra, I don't know about cutting them back to ground level - I just left mine alone and they thrived for three years, and then died off pretty quickly - so that answers Jonathan's question, at least in my own experience that is. I still consider myself quite a novice gardener, so wouldn't like to give a definitive answer!

Dont cut back to ground level, but you should be able to prune back this years growth, as long as there are leaves on the branches beneath, dont prune to bare wood. Despite giving this advice. Eventually all mine died and I dont have any at all.