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
-
Alyssums are a popular annual for use as an edging plant where lots of flowers are needed. Good for growing between walkway stones and as a filler between taller plants.
They grow in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. During the summer, 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.
Popular cultivars include:
- 'Princess' Series
- 'Knight' Series
- 'Clear Crystal' Series
- 'Snow Crystals'
- 'Easter Bonnet' Series
- 'Giga White'
- 'Wonderland' Series
Pests and problems include environmental damage from drought or drowning or edema. They also may be affected by downy mildew, stem and crown rots or plants 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:
- Poolside Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Frosty Night'
- 'Snow Princess'
- 'Frosty Night'
- 'Frosty Night', 'Snow Princess'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Frosty Night'
- 'Snow Princess'
- 'Frosty Night'
- 'Frosty Night', 'Snow Princess'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lobularia
- Species:
- maritima
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds. pollinators, butterflies
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
-
-
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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- 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.
-
-
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:
- Tiny four-petaled fragrant blooms in white cover the plant in spring and fall. May stop blooming in the heat of summer.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-inch lance-shaped to oval gray-green leaves
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
