October is the perfect time to plant biennial wallflowers (Erysimum). The ‘Sugar Rush’ variety offers longer-lasting colour than traditional wallflowers. Instead of waiting until spring, these cultivars bloom soon after planting. Their blooms last through autumn, winter, and the following spring. The plants are compact, bushy, and sweetly scented, bringing cheer to borders, containers, and window boxes as other plants fade.

When planting your young ‘Sugar Rush’ wallflowers, choose a sunny spot with well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. They dislike sitting in heavy, waterlogged ground, especially during winter. Enriching the soil with a handful of grit or sharp sand can improve drainage if your soil is heavy clay. Plant them quite firmly, ensuring the crown is at ground level, and space them about 20–30 cm apart. A good watering right after planting helps them settle in and encourages root growth before the colder weather takes hold.

What makes ‘Sugar Rush’ special is how tough it is. Once the plants settle in, they handle light frosts and keep blooming with fragrant flowers, only taking a break during the coldest spells. From orange, red, yellow, and purple, you can enjoy there bright colours as early as November, adding much-needed cheer to winter days. When spring arrives, they bloom even more, filling the gap between late tulips and early summer flowers. With just a bit of effort in autumn, you get almost nine months of color and scent. Plant your ‘Sugar Rush’ wallflowers now to enjoy months of beautiful blooms.