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Is there any hope for my wallflower Constant Cheer?

msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
in Plants
Hi all, the wallflower Constant Cheer I planted two years ago was already in full bloom around this time last year, but currently it looks like this. Is it dead, or is there still a way to revive it pls? Such a pity as it was one of my favourite plants in the garden.... Thanks! (the small yellow flower is another wallflower I planted nearby last year grown from seed)


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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    wallflowers aren't especially long-lived. I think that one is on its run down period


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think it's probably flowered itself to a standstill, similar to Bowles Mauve.
    If there's enough "vegetation" you could try taking cuttings.
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Thanks both. Just went to take some cuttings. The stems are still green inside, and there's even some tiny bits of green new growth coming out in some places. Now the question is, do I cut back the leggy bits or leave them in place? Shall I feed it? Thanks again!


  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    https://youtu.be/iYrZ7mDk1xE
    This may be of some help, but the general advice seems to be that once they've got really leggy they are past the point of no return and should be dug up and replaced.  
    I suppose it can't hurt to cut it right back and see what happens, and with luck a forum member may have tried doing this and can report back on the results  :)

  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Thank you @AnniD I'll try cutting it back and see what happens.
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    I have tried cutting Bowles' Mauve hard back as you suggest, but it died anyway. Probably better to strike some cuttings every couple of years so that when your plant in the ground dies, you already have one in waiting. 
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Cambridgerose12 said:
    I have tried cutting Bowles' Mauve hard back as you suggest, but it died anyway. Probably better to strike some cuttings every couple of years so that when your plant in the ground dies, you already have one in waiting. 
    Thanks! My notes said that I did take some cuttings last Jul. I just don't know where they ended up   :/ Also I remember there were so many flowers and barely any non-flowering stems to take cuttings from.....
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Don’t worry about non flowering stems, you can just pick off the flowering heads,
    I always took cuttings but none of the wallflower family do well for me,  I have acid soil, they belong to the brassica family who hate acid soil.  I have to remember to water lime in the ground,  most times I forget. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Update: My wallflower has sprung back to life! Lots of green new growth from the old stems... Only produced a few small flowers though, so I think it's still on decline. Took the chance to take a few cuttings.  :)


  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    I didn't know that @Lyn and I've been looking for wallflowers to order just today. Bum bum bum! 😕
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