[Wallflowers: The Genus Erysimum in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower

Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum

Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

Rough wallflower as seen high on the southeastern slopes of Sevenmile Hill several miles to the northwest of The Dalles, Oregon........April 12, 2015.

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)The photo at right shows rough wallflower as seen at the crest of the Columbia Hills, northeast of the Dallesport, WA.........June 3, 2006.
Characteristics:

Rough wallflower like other cousins of the same name, is an attractive wildflower with a sweet fragrance. It is a biennial or short-live perennial usually found with a single erect stem which is most often unbranched and ranges from 20-100 cm tall. The basal leaves are numerous, in a rosette with entire to toothed margins. The basal leaves range from 3-12 cm long and 2-10 mm wide. The stem leaves may be entire to toothed margined too, and are reduced in size.

The petals are yellow or deep orange and range from 15-25 mm long The seed pods are slightly flattened siliques from 3-10 cm long and about 1-1.5 mm wide. The siliques ascend or are erect, and may be straight or slightly arched.

Rough wallflower would make an excellent addition to the naturalized garden!


Habitat:

Rough wallflower is found on open to lightly wooded slopes.


Range:

Rough wallflower is found from southern British Columbia eastward to Minnesota, and southwards to Oklahoma and California. It is generally found east of the Cascade Mts., but is found westward through the Columbia Gorge into the Willamette Valley.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found throughout the breadth of the gorge and from 100'-4900'.


Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

Rough wallflower blooming on the east rim of the Klickitat River near the end of the South Breaks Road, Klickitat Wildlife Area...........May 1, 2014.

Pod of Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

The photo above shows a the long seed pod of rough wallflower with its squared-off corners, a characteristic of this species.

Pod of Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

The photo above shows a close-up of the seed pod shown above of rough wallflower with its squared-off corners, a characteristic of this species. Note the minute, appressed hairs covering the pod.

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri) - Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

Rough wallflower blooming along the Lyle-Cherry Orchard Trail, Columbia River Gorge.........April 2, 2015.

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri) - Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

Close-up images of the inflorescences of rough wallflower as observed along old highway 8 adjacent to Rowland Lake, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.......April 3, 2018.

Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri) - Flower of Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

The inflorescence and a close-up of the flower of rough wallflower. It starts as a tight raceme in bud which elongates greatly as it flowers. Photographed from the southern slopes of Mt. Adams in May 2005.

Inflorescence of Douglas' Wallflower, Prairie Rocket, Rough Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum (Synonyms: Erysimum arkansanum, Erysimum asperum, Erysimum asperum var. arkansanum, Erysimum asperum var. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Erysimum capitatum var. stellatum, Erysimum capitatum var. washoense, Erysimum elatum, Erysimum moniliforme, Erysimum wheeleri)

Rough wallflower blooming at Catherine Creek.........April 13, 2016.

Paul Slichter