The name wallflower probably conjures up shy schoolkids, but wallflower plants have a lot of bold personality and wonderfully fragrant flowers. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has the low down on caring for these pretty plants. What are Wallflowers? Wallflower is a tough little plant that can grow in harsh and unforgiving situations. Its common name stems from the plant’s ability to sprout up in surprising spots. It’s not uncommon to see this little flowering plant pop up between bricks or cracks in concrete. The Erysimum genus encompasses many species, including herbaceous perennials, annuals, and subshrubs. Some species are popular for growing in the garden, while most regard others as wildflowers. These plants are drought tolerant and low maintenance, and interestingly, they are related to broccoli! History Few plants rival wallflowers when it comes to garden plants that have been in cultivation for a long time. Records exist of this plant’s use in medicinal preparations as early as 70 AD. In terms of its ornamental use, this plant has been cultivated in gardens since medieval times at least, and likely much longer. English gardeners have grown this plant in their spaces since the 1500s. by the 1700s, they made their way into gardens in the United States. The plant’s ability to grow from walls and other difficult terrain may be a reason for its longstanding popularity. Their strong and pleasant fragrance made them a popular flower in nosegays. These small bouquets were historically held in one’s hand and used to shield the owner from offensive odors. They have a rich and storied history in folklore, symbolizing faith in adversity. Native Area These plants are native to at least three continents. Various species show up in Africa, Europe, and North America. They are potentially native as far south as Costa Rica. Their natural habitat is far-reaching. You will find wallflowers growing in sand dunes, alpine meadows, desert canyons, cliffsides, and prairies. Characteristics Wallflowers bloom in various colors from late spring to early summer. Erysimum is a member of the brassica family, which includes cabbage and broccoli, among others. There are species that fall into the categories of annual, perennial, and sub-shrub. Their stems are erect with a fine coating of hairs. The leaves are broader toward the base of the plant and become narrower near the top. The flowers grow in clusters at intervals along the stems. The four-petaled flowers typically appear in warm shades of yellow, red, and orange. They can also be blue, purple, or white, and they have a sweet and pleasant fragrance. The flowers bloom from late spring to early summer and are very attractive to pollinators. Where to Buy Wallflowers Wallflower plants are readily available at many nurseries and other plant retailers. They are hardy in Zones 3-10 and easy to care for, which makes them a very popular plant in a wide range of climates. You can also find a wide range of these plants at online retailers. Planting Determine planting time for your wallflower plants according to the type and climate. Growing from seed is the most common way with biennial varieties. Start your seeds 10-12 weeks ahead of your last frost date. Plant your seedlings in early fall for blooms the following spring. Perennial wallflowers can go in the ground any time of year. Spring is ideal as it gives them a full growing season to establish roots before winter. In warm climates, you can plant your seeds in the fall, leaving them uncovered as they need light to germinate. Space your plants 10-12 inches apart in the ground or six inches apart in pots. How to Grow These plants are easy to care for with just a few considerations. They need protection from strong winds, for one thing. They also need proper drainage and will not thrive in wet environments with soggy soil. Maintenance To keep your flowers blooming and plants looking full and happy, deadheading is a must. The more you deadhead, the more flowers your plants will produce. Fall is the time for major pruning. In warm climates, this plant can act as an evergreen. To prevent it from growing leggy and sparse, trim the entire plant back by half when it finishes flowering. In cool climates, where the foliage will die back, prune it to a few inches above the soil in the fall.

While its feathery foliage has a delicate appearance, dill is easy to grow and care for, and is an excellent addition to any garden. In addition to providing bright, fresh flavor for your dishes, dill plants also attract a host of beneficial insects such as ladybugs, green lacewings, and syrphid flies—all of which prey on aphids. To keep your dill plant happy and healthy, it's important to regularly prune it. This will will help it grow bushier and fuller, promote new grow, and ultimately lead to a more abundant dill harvest. Before You Get Started No matter what method you use to prune your dill plant, it's important to keep these guidelines in mind. Wait for the dill plant to have at least five leaves or until the plant is at least six inches tall, somewhere between four to eight weeks after planting. As with other herbs, you should never trim more than one third of the entire plant. To prevent over-pruning, allow the plant to recover and regrow to its previous size before pruning again. If you prune down a stem without leaving any fronds (leaf sets), the stem will not grow more dill. If you want the dill plant to continue growing its green foliage, pinch off any flower buds that form. Flowering is a sign that the plant is ready to reproduce and nearing the end of its life. Every part of the dill plant is edible, including the seeds, stems, and flowers. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! How to Prune Dill for Growth If you're growing dill to use in your kitchen, pruning the plant can play a vital role in its yield. Regularly pruning away leaves from the top of the plant will encourage bushier growth—and give you fresh herbs to cook with. I've found this is the best method to use for a bountiful dill harvest you can enjoy all season long. I follow this process when I need a few leaves to garnish a dish or salad with. I just run out back to my vegetable garden, pluck off a small handful of dill leaves, and bring them back into the kitchen to finish up. Find a tender stem with mature growth. Follow the tops of the fronds (dill leaves) to the previous leaf set. You'll want to prune right above it, leaving some leaves in tact for the stem to continue to produce leaves. Using a clean pair of pruning shears, snip off the dill leaves from that top part of the stem. You can also use your thumb and forefinger to pinch the leaves off. How to Prune Dill for Storage If your goal is to harvest large amounts of dill for drying, freezing, or preserving, then you'll want to prune away much of the dill plant. Because the goal is no longer to encourage growth, you can cut the leaves, stems, and all. Dill is an annual plant and will need to be replanted the following year. This is the pruning method I follow at the end of the growing season, when the dill plant is lush and full but doesn't have flowers blooming yet. Spray the dill plant with water one day before harvesting it. This will help clear it of dirt and ensure the plant has moisture for the freshest harvest possible. Using a pair of scissors or pruning shears, cut it at the base of the stem, pruning the whole plant away. Place the stems in a glass of water like you would flowers. If you plan to dry the dill, combine the dill stems into small bundles and hang them upside down to dry for one to two weeks. How to Prune Dill for Seed-Saving If you are growing a dill plant for its seeds, then you need to allow the plant to flower in order to harvest them. You can increase your seed crop by selectively pruning the leaves, forcing the plant to send all nutrients and energy to the seed-producing flowers. In order to collect seeds, you want to encourage the dill plant to flower. Regularly prune the top leaves, making sure to leave the main stems intact. Wait for your dill plant to start producing small yellow flowers. Allow the flowers to fully mature. The seeds are ready to be harvested when the follows are brown and completely dried on the plant. To collect the seeds, secure a paper bag over the flower heads and shake them. Once you are finished harvesting seeds, trim back the stems that held the flowers.

Dill is a popular herb to toss in various dishes, but dill plants can also do well in the garden. Dill is an excellent companion plant for certain herbs and vegetables, such as basil and broccoli, as well as flowers like marigolds. This guide will help you use this versatile herb to benefit plants in your garden. Here are 12 dill companion plants to help cultivate a healthy and productive garden. Benefits of Companion Planting Companion planting is a tried-and-true gardening technique that can boost the health of certain crops when planted together. Some plants can attract pollinators like wasps and repel pests like cabbage worms and moths. Additionally, while most plants absorb nutrients from the soil, some do the opposite. Bush beans, for instance, send nitrogen back into the earth to benefit neighboring plants, and chamomile can release chemicals that boost growth and even flavor in nearby plants. Dill is a great companion plant for numerous herbs and vegetables primarily for its relationship with good and bad insects. Dill plants can attract pollinators like honeybees and ladybugs to your garden, as well as deter harmful insects like aphids and spider mites. Additionally, dill has shallow roots and narrow stems that can easily fit between larger plants like Brussels sprouts to help you save space in your garden. Corn Insects like cutworms and earworms can threaten mature corn. Dill has an intense fragrance that attracts various insects like ladybugs and hoverflies. These beneficial bugs happen to prey on corn's harmful pests, making flowering dill plants an excellent companion for established corn.1 Experts recommend growing dill on the ends of corn rows, roughly one foot away from the nearest corn stalk. Name: Corn (Zea mays) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, well-drained, acidic, neutral Asparagus For many crops, aphids are always on the prowl, looking to gobble up your plants before you have the chance. Asparagus is among these vulnerable veggies. Fortunately, dill seeds attract both lacewings and ladybugs, which enjoy snacking on aphids.1 Additionally, companion planting with asparagus and dill is a great way to maximize growing space and ensure an even distribution of nutrients. Name: Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-9 Light: Full sun Soil: Sandy, loamy, neutral acidic Basil Dill and basil are great companion plants, because of their many similarities. Not only do they benefit from similar soil components, but they also attract many of the same beneficial insects and deter destructive pests.1 If you're building an herb garden, be sure to plant basil nearby. Name: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Moist, rich, well-draining, acidic to alkaline Deer Resistant: Yes Tip Other herbs like coriander, parsley, and chervil also make great dill companion plants. Broccoli Brassica vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, and more, many of which make great dill companion plants. Dill can help deter destructive insects like cabbage moths, cabbage loopers, and cabbage worms, all of which enjoy munching on brassica vegetables like broccoli.2 Name: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Moist, loamy, well-drained, acidic, neutral Marigold Dill can help repel a variety of pesky insects, but it is not immune to damage from certain bugs like caterpillars and slugs. Fortunately, there are certain plants that can ward off these critters, including marigolds.2 Companion Planting. Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Marigolds are considered one of the best companion plants, pairing perfectly with onions, squash, cucumber, and more. Name: Marigold (Tagetes spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Evenly moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral Lettuce Some sources argue that leafy vegetables like lettuce are the best dill companion plant of all.1 Not only is lettuce a primary target of many garden pests, but it has a short growing cycle, so you can harvest and replant your lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard as the dill grows. Name: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun to partial sun Soil: Loamy, rich, well-drained, acidic, neutral Onion Aphids tend to avoid the intense fragrance that accompanies dill, but that doesn't mean dill is protected from the threat of this common garden pest. Many avid gardeners recommend planting onions and dill together because the combination of these strong aromas offers an even better barrier against bugs like aphids.21 Name:Onion (Allim cepa) USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, well-drained, neutral Beans Like dill, beans are a great companion plant, because of the benefits they offer neighboring plants. Specifically, the roots of bean plants attract nitrogen, which benefits the surrounding plants. In exchange, dill keeps away common garden pests that threaten to destroy growing bean plants.2 Name: Common bean, green bean, etc. (Phaseolus vulgaris) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, moist, well-drained, acidic Nasturtium Like marigolds, nasturtiums can be an excellent dill companion plant and benefit a number of other popular garden herbs and veggies. Just as onions and dill work together to repel aphids, nasturtium can protect garden crops by doubling dill's efforts. This popular companion plant attracts pollinators as well as predatory insects, making it a great addition to most garden beds.1 Name: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Moist but well-drained, acidic, neutral, alkaline Chives Like onions, chives have an intense fragrance that can deter aphids, making dill and chives a great pest-fighting team. Chives will not only help dill deter this destructive garden critter, but it also repels other garden pests like spider mites. Together, chives and dill attract pollinators to foster health for neighboring plants.2 Name: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 Light: Full sun to light shade Soil: Loamy, sandy, slightly acidic to neutral Tip Some sources say planting dill near alliums like garlic, chives, onions, and leeks can help enhance their flavor.2 Zucchini Zucchini and other squash plants tend to grow big and bushy, so not every popular companion plant pairs well with these leafy giants. Fortunately, dill is thin and frond-like, so it won't clash with the squash plant's leaves or block sunshine. Additionally, zucchini and squash are particularly susceptible to pests like squash beetles and flea beetles, but dill plants offer an effective line of defense by attracting predatory insects.2 Name: Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Rich, loamy, moist Cucumber Dill and cucumber are another great pair in both the kitchen as well as the garden. Cucumber beetles are a major threat to cucumbers, but fortunately, dill can help. Dill plants attract ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and green lacewings, all of which love to feast on cucumber beetles.3 Name: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun to partial shade Soil: Rich, well-draining, acidic to neutral Plants You Shouldn't Grow With Dill Although dill can be a beneficial companion plant for a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and even flowers, not every plant will interact well with dill plants. Here are a few plants you should avoid growing near dill: Carrots: Avoid planting dill and carrots together, as the pair are members of the same plant family and can cross-pollinate. This is also true of celery, cilantro, caraway, and more.2 Peppers: Peppers, and other nightshades like eggplant and even tomatoes, are not the best companion plant for dill, because they consume the same type of nutrients, which may stunt your plants' growth.2 Lavender: Lavender and dill are not great companion plants, since both have different soil requirements. Dill prefers moist soil, while lavender likes its soil to dry between watering.45 Potatoes: Dill grows quickly and sometimes blocks light from reaching other growing plants like potatoes, which can stunt their growth.