Sweet Alyssum
Don’t miss out on the charm of Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)! This petite plant is low maintenance, easy to grow, and can withstand drought. Its abundant, fragrant flowers will create a stunning carpet of blooms, blending harmoniously with your other annuals or perennials in beds and borders.
Lobularia maritima, commonly known as sweet alyssum, sweet Alison or alyssum, is native to the Mediterranean region, including southern Europe and northern Africa.
Description: Sweet alyssum is a low-growing, mat-forming annual or short-lived perennial known for its profuse, fragrant, tiny flowers that appear in clusters. The flowers are often white, but cultivars offer pink, purple, and lavender colors.
Growth Habit: This plant is characterized by a spreading habit, forming a carpet-like appearance as it cascades over walls, containers, and garden edges. It typically spreads 6 to 9 inches wide, offering dense ground coverage.
Size: Sweet alyssum is a small, compact plant, typically reaching heights of 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) and spreads of 8-12 inches (20-30 cm).
Flowers: The flowers are tiny, four-petaled, and extremely fragrant, often compared to the scent of honey. They appear in clusters covering the plant from spring until the first frost.
Foliage: The foliage is comprised of small, linear to lance-shaped, gray-green leaves.
Blooming Season: Sweet alyssum blooms from late spring through fall, often until the first frost.
Hardiness: It is hardy in USDA zones 5-9 as an annual but can be a perennial in zones 9-11.
Uses: Its cascading growth habit makes it ideal for rock gardens, border edges, containers, and hanging baskets. It is also commonly used as a ground cover or in butterfly gardens.
Pollinators: The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Birds are also drawn to sweet alyssum.
Toxicity: Lobularia maritima is non-toxic to humans and pets.
Drought: It is moderately drought-tolerant once established but prefers regular watering for best bloom production.
Invasiveness: Sweet alyssum is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
Key Facts: One standout feature of sweet alyssum is its delightful fragrance, which is most noticeable on warm days or in the evening. It’s a low-maintenance plant that’s easy to grow from seed, making it a popular choice for gardeners of all skill levels. The abundant blooms also make it an excellent plant for mass planting, where it can create a ‘carpet’ of color.
|
Alyssum ‘Easter Bonnet’ Series |
Alyssum ‘Frosty Night’ |
| Extremely heat tolerant, it is noted for its spreading, mounding and cascading habit. Up to 8 in. tall (20 cm), spreads up to 24 in. (60 cm). Multiple awards |
Compact, uniform cultivars. Exist in deep pink, rose, lavender, white and violet. Bloom earlier. Up to 2 inches tall (5 cm), spreads 10 in. (25 cm). Fleuroselect award |
Very attractive and eye-catching with it variegated foliage. Heat tolerant. Up to 6 in. tall (15 cm), spreads 24 in. (60 cm). Multiple awards. |
Alyssum ‘Wonderland’ Series |
Alyssum ‘Blushing Princess’ |
Alyssum ‘Snow Crystal’ |
| Brilliant rosy-red flowers on compact, flat-growing plants. This variety is considered to be excellent for edging. Up to 5 in. tall (12 cm), spreads 24 in. (60 cm). Fleuroselect Award |
Fragrant flowers and blush lavender color make this plant a fantastic addition to your garden. Heat tolerant. Up to 8 in. tall (20 cm), spreads up to 24 in. (60 cm). Multiple awards |
Has large, fragrant flowers. Very suited to hanging baskets, windowboxes and tubs, where the remarkable size of the flowerheads can be appreciated to the full. Up to 6 in. tall (15 cm), spreads 12.(30 cm). Fleuroselect award |
| Hardiness |
5 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
| Genus | Lobularia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2" - 1' (5cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Birds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Banks And Slopes, Hanging Baskets, Edging |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
Lobularia maritima, commonly known as sweet alyssum, is an easy-to-grow annual plant known for its fragrant, small flowers and its ability to attract beneficial insects. Here’s a basic guide on how to grow it:
Location: Sweet alyssum prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial. Choose a location with well-drained soil. It’s tolerant of a range of soil types but does best in moderately fertile soils.
Sowing Seeds: You can start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost or sow them directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on the soil surface, about 2 inches (5 cm) apart, and press them gently into the soil, but do not cover them as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist until germination, which usually takes between 7 and 14 days.
Plant Spacing: When the seedlings have more than four leaves, thin to 6 inches (15 cm) apart in all directions.
Watering: Water the plants regularly, but be careful not to overwater. Sweet alyssum is relatively drought-tolerant once established.
Fertilizing: Generally, sweet alyssum plants grown in the ground do not require fertilizer unless the soil is nutrient-poor. Monthly feedings with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer are recommended for container-grown plants. When starting from seeds, incorporate a time-release fertilizer during planting. Apply fertilizer again after blooms fade to promote new growth, but avoid excessive fertilization, which can result in excessive foliage and fewer blooms.
Pruning/Deadheading: To encourage bushier growth and more blooming, you can trim back the plants by one-third to one-half in midsummer. Also, remove spent blooms regularly (deadheading) to promote continuous flowering.
Pests and Diseases: Sweet alyssum doesn’t usually suffer from serious pest or disease problems. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids and treat as necessary. Good air circulation can help prevent issues with fungal diseases.
Remember, sweet alyssum is an annual and will need to be replanted each year in cooler climates. However, it often self-seeds, so you may find new plants growing on their own the following year.
/ 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
5 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
| Genus | Lobularia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2" - 1' (5cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Birds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Banks And Slopes, Hanging Baskets, Edging |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
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Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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