[Wallflowers: The Genus Erysimum East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Pale Wallflower, Pale Wall Flower, Western Wallflower

Erysimum occidentale

Synonyms: Cheiranthus occidentalis, Cheirinia occidentalis

The photo above shows pale wall flower as seen from sand dunes along the Columbia River downstream from Priest Rapids Dam in Central Washington........March 29, 2007.

The photo at right shows the flowers and long, linear stem leaves of pale wall flower. Photographed west of Rock Creek in the eastern Columbia River Gorge......March 27, 1999.

Characteristics:

Pale wall flower is an attractive dry land wildflower. It is a biennial with one to several stout stems from 20-50 cm high. The stems are simple or may be branched. Plants have numerous basal and stem leaves. The leaves are narrowly linear to linear-lanceolate or oblanceolate in shape with entire to sometimes several-toothed margins. Individual leaves range from 4 to 8 cm long and 2-4 mm wide.

The inflorescence is a raceme of numerous light yellow flowers. The four sepals are 8-10 mm long. The four petals are 1.5-2 cm long. The pedicels are mostly ascending. The fruits are siliques which are flattened in cross-section. They measure from 6-10 cm long and up to 3-4 mm wide and are ascending.

Pale wall flower would be a suitable addition for the dry land garden.

Habitat:

Pale wall flower may be found on dry ground. It is often seen in sandy areas or maybe found around sagebrush in the lowlands.

Range:

Pale wall flower may be found east of the Cascade Range from central Washington southto Nevada and east to Idaho.

Pale wallflower as seen on sand dunes atop the White Bluffs (north), Hanford Reach National Monument..........April 26, 2014.

Pale Wallflower, Pale Wall Flower, Western Wallflower Erysimum occidentale (Synonyms: Cheiranthus occidentalis, Cheirinia occidentalis)

Pale wall flower from sand pit along Washington State Road 14 west of Rock Creek, eastern Columbia River Gorge......March 27, 1999.

Paul Slichter