# Western Wallflower (*Erysimum capitatum*) The Western Wallflower is a bright yellow flower that grows in sunny places. It has a sweet smell and attracts butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among pollinators! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Western Wallflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erysimum_capitatum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erysimum_capitatum.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Wallflower has cheerful clusters of four-petaled flowers, typically in bright golden-yellow or vivid orange hues. These vibrant blooms stand tall on sturdy stems, emerging from a rosette of green leaves. Its striking color makes it easily noticeable in rocky, dry areas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Brassicales - **Family:** Brassicaceae - **Genus:** Erysimum ## Interesting facts - Its name comes from growing on walls and rocky cliffs! - Its tiny seeds can wait years for the perfect spot to sprout! - Some Western Wallflowers can even have purple or red flowers too! - The plant is related to cabbage and broccoli in the mustard family! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Western Wallflower has deep roots and fuzzy leaves that help it store water and thrive in very dry, sunny places where other plants struggle. - **Nectar Beacon:** Western Wallflower can produce bright, fragrant flowers rich in nectar, which attracts bees and butterflies from far away to help it spread its seeds. - **Cold Resilience:** Western Wallflower can withstand cold temperatures and even snow, allowing it to bloom early in the spring before many other plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-80 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring and early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** Cabbage White butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — caterpillars feed on leaves - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — deer browse on foliage ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Wallflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Western Wallflower? 20-80 cm ### How wide does Western Wallflower spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Western Wallflower? 1-2.5 cm ### When does Western Wallflower bloom? Spring and early summer ### Is Western Wallflower edible? Yes ### Is Western Wallflower toxic? Mild ### What is Western Wallflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [William Allen White Cabins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-allen-white-cabins) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Echo Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/echo-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Fall River Entrance Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fall-river-entrance-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Gold Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gold-hill) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Western Wallflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-wallflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Western Wallflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-wallflower)