Roger Handley started his career in medicine, then veered to chemistry and publicity. However, it was gardening that finally stole his heart. He discovered Erysimum ‘Jenny Brook’ growing as a seedling on a gravel path at his home in Wales. It flowered amazingly, and subsequent cuttings grew much more vigorously than the original plant. It is named after his granddaughter.
Erysimum ‘Jenny Brook’ features striking, multi-colored flowers in shades of purple, mauve and peach. It was voted one of the top 12 perennials in the Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia (USA) and won a Classic City Award, which is given to plants with the highest performance for the longest period of time in the challenging environment of Athens, Ga.
Trial garden manager Allan Armitage raved that “Erysimum ‘Jenny Brook’ wowed us from January until June with her delightful color palette of apricot and lavender.
“A plant worth getting to know, this Erysimum is the best wall flower we have ever trialed, bar none. Lots of flower power, no maintenance. It showed no sign of stress whatsoever, proving to withstand the climate associated with the southeastern piedmont.” (American Horticultural Society Heat Zone 9; more than 120 to 150 days per year above 30˚C)