How to grow Alyssum

Read about how to grow and care for the beautiful Alyssum flowers.

Alyssum is a delicate carpet of tiny flowers with a subtle, sweet scent. The low-growing foliage is covered by flowers for much of the growing season. Lobularia is very easy to grow, from plant or seed. Alyssum is cool season flowers that can be set out in early spring are grown throughout the fall and winter, in frost-free climates. Sweet Alyssum is a fast bloomer and is one of the best attractors of beneficial insects and butterflies.

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Common names: Sweet alyssum, Sweet Alison, Lobularia

Botanical name: Lobularia maritima

Other names:  Madwort, Healbite, Mary’s cushion

Varieties:

•  ‘Easter Bonnet’ – An early blooming variety, in lavender or white.
• ‘New Carpet of Snow’ – Low growing variety, covered in white flowers.
• ‘Pastel Carpet’– A blend of pinks, lavenders and creams.
• ‘Alyssum Rosie o Day’: Deep rose-pink flowers. An easy to grow, fragrant choice for edging.
• ‘Snow Crystals’ – Tidy, mounding variety with clear white flowers and good stamina.
• ‘Snow Princess’– A sterile hybrid, from Proven Winners, that stands up well to heat.

Design ideas:

• Makes a wonderful carpet-like ground cover
• They are also great in hanging baskets and containers.

Plant Features:

Life cycle: can be both annual and perennial depending on the variety

Height: up to 4-6 inches

Width/spread: around 1 foot wide

Flowering season: Spring through fall

Flowers: flowers come in an amazing array of colors, including not only white but also bronze, purple, rose, pink, wine red, lemon yellow, etc.

Foliage:  Narrow, lance-shaped, slightly hairy gray-green leaves.

Growth and Care:

Sunlight: full sun- around 6-8 hours of direct exposure to the sun.

Water: regularly- whenever top soil turns dry. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, to avoid rot and fungal diseases due to over watering.

Sowing season: Early spring

Sowing method: To start Sweet Alyssum from seed, simply scatter the seed and press it down. This makes good contact with the soil, but it is still exposed to light. Keep the soil moist, until germination. Another effective way to start healthy Alyssum saplings is by germinating seeds indoors using seed trays, under bright light.

Care: Sweet alyssums are relatively low maintenance. However, they can become leggy at times. Trim the tops removing half the growth. This will not only help to keep them compact, but will also encourage further flowering. A second set of seedlings may be planted at the end of the summer for flowers to continue blooming throughout the year.

Pests: Sweet Alyssum is generally pest resistant. Aphids can attack, especially when the plants are under stress. However, regular use of organic pesticides such as Panchagavya or Neem Oil prevents pests from attacking the plant.

Harvest: Using a sharp knife, harvest by cutting a clean angled edge. Remove any foliage that will fall below the surface of water of a vase.

Edited by Farhana Afreen.