Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sweet Alyssum:
Previously known as:
- Alyssum halimifolium
- Alyssum maritimum
- Alyssum minimum
- Phonetic Spelling
- lob-yoo-LAR-ee-ah may-rih-TEE-mah
- Description
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Alyssums are a popular, easy to grow, flowering, annual or short lived perennial, in the mustard family and typically used as an edging plant where lots of flowers are needed. The mat-forming plant produces spreading mounds of fragrant white flowers from spring to first frost where the summers are cool (blooms will decline in hot summers). The genus name comes from the Latin lobulus meaning small pod. The species name means of the sea or coastal.
Alyssum does best in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. It will tolerate drought and dry soil and appreciates some afternoon shade. During the summer or when the blooms decline, cut back plants to keep it flowering. Leave plants in the garden over the winter. In spring, remove plants to expose lots of self-sown seedlings.
For spring flowers, sow seed in the ground several weeks before the last frost date. Or start seed indoors 5 to 6 weeks before last frost date and set out seedlings or purchased plants just before last frost date. Alternatively, you can sow seed in August for fall bloom.
Good for growing between walkway stones and as a filler between taller plants.
Clemson University, Home and Garden Information Center, has a fact sheet on Sweet Alyssum.
A number of popular cultivars are available that expand the flower color choice to include shades of pink, rose, lavender, purple and apricot. Plants with white blossoms seem to be the most fragrant with a scent of new mown hay or honey.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Pests and problems include environmental damage from drought or drowning or edema. They also may be affected by downy mildew, stem and crown rots. Plants may decline due to poorly drained soils. Very good soil drainage is a must if alyssum is to perform well in the garden.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cabarrus County Poolside Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Clear Crystal Series
Fragrant, large blossoms. - Easter Bonnet Series
Compact, early flowering, white, pink, or purple flowers. - 'Frosty Night'
Small white flowers and variegated foliage. - 'Giga White'
Large, fragrant white blossoms, heat tolerant. - Knight Series
Fragrant, long blooming, heat tolerant. - Princess Series
Abundant blossoms; tolerates heat or cold. - 'Snow Crystals"
Large white blossom, vigorous, drought tolerant. - 'Snow Princess'
Abundant, fragrant white flowers; thrives in heat or cold. - Wonderland Series
Multiple colors available, fast to bloom, shorter season.
- Clear Crystal Series
- Clear Crystal Series, Easter Bonnet Series, 'Frosty Night', 'Giga White', Knight Series, Princess Series, 'Snow Crystals", 'Snow Princess', Wonderland Series
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Clear Crystal Series
Fragrant, large blossoms. - Easter Bonnet Series
Compact, early flowering, white, pink, or purple flowers. - 'Frosty Night'
Small white flowers and variegated foliage. - 'Giga White'
Large, fragrant white blossoms, heat tolerant. - Knight Series
Fragrant, long blooming, heat tolerant. - Princess Series
Abundant blossoms; tolerates heat or cold. - 'Snow Crystals"
Large white blossom, vigorous, drought tolerant. - 'Snow Princess'
Abundant, fragrant white flowers; thrives in heat or cold. - Wonderland Series
Multiple colors available, fast to bloom, shorter season.
- Clear Crystal Series
- Clear Crystal Series, Easter Bonnet Series, 'Frosty Night', 'Giga White', Knight Series, Princess Series, 'Snow Crystals", 'Snow Princess', Wonderland Series
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lobularia
- Species:
- maritima
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Europe, west and central Mediterranean.
- Distribution:
- Introduced to west and east coast of United States, west coast of South America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia.
- Wildlife Value:
- Beetles, butterflies, and skippers feed off the plant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Cream-colored oval seed pods with 1 yellowish seed each. The fruits are numerous, rather hairy, oval to rounded.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Dense clusters of tiny four-petaled fragrant blooms in white cover the plant in spring and fall. May stop blooming in the heat of summer, but can be rejuvenated. Flowers can cover foliage mounds as to totally hide the foliage.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- One inch, broad, hairy, lance-shaped to oval gray-green leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Mat-forming plant that produces spreading mounds of branching stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil