AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
Snow Princess ® sugared alyssum hold a vigorous flowering groundcover . Photo : Proven Winners
One of the most enduring garden yearbook is unfermented alyssum . This old - time favorite farm dainty dearest - odorize flowers throughout the growing season . The mounding or trailing habit is well - suited for containers , hang basket and garden bed .
A extremity of the mustard family , sweet alyssum is forgiving of varying soil and clean conditions . aboriginal to the Mediterranean , this dependable heirloom overwinters as a short - endure perennial in tender part .
Sweet madwort is attract butterfly and is a pollinator magnet — hummingbirds love it too . With so much pass for it , what ’s not to care ?
On this page : The Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Choosing the Right Alyssum|Landscaping Tips
ALYSSUM BASICS
Zones:
Annual up to Zone 8 ; suddenly - hold up perennial in Zones 9 - 11 .
Height/Spread:
Sprawling or mounding substance abuse , with industrial plant develop 4 - 10 in tall , 10 - 48 in wide , with branches track up to 36 inches long .
Exposure:
Sweet alyssum blossom estimable with at least six 60 minutes of full sun , but can tolerate fond ghost . In warmer climates , plant perform best with shelter from hot good afternoon sunshine .
Bloom time:
Spring until the first hard frost .
Color and characteristics:
plant have lilliputian , haired , oval leaves that are green , blue - light-green , or variegated . Branching stem bear prolific clusters of 1/4 - inch extensive four - petaled blossoms . The delightful honey - scented flower come in shades of white , pink , rose , lavender , purpleness , and apricot .
Types:
quondam varieties ( Lobularia maritima ) are well grown from seed and self - sow promptly from yr to year in temperate climates . refer to as coolheaded - season annuals , they are much more cold hardy than the new hybrids , as well as being more drouth tolerant . They flower best in spring and fall , with a lull during raging summer month .
A newer multiplication ( Lobulariahybrids ) were develop for uttermost heartiness and bigger plant life size of it , and flower nonstop throughout the develop season . These varieties take the heat much better thanL. maritimatypes , but are not drought tolerant . They do not bring forth seed , so are only grown from thinning .
Toxicity:
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
When to plant:
Sow seed indoors in flats several weeks before the last average frost date in your realm , or sow in direct outdoors after all danger of frost is retiring . For baby’s room starting signal , works outside any time after the last frost .
Where to plant:
In the garden , plant in full sunshine to partial shade in intermediate , well - draining soil . For baskets and container , check that there is tolerable drainage .
How to plant:
Broadcast alyssum seed in flats indoors , or well - improve soil outside . Do n’t cross seed , as light will help in germination . Keep moist until germination , 7 - 20 twenty-four hours . Transplant seedling when there are at least two set of secondary leaves , set aside 6 column inch of space between flora .
For containers , place industrial plant in high quality , well - drain potting mix and set aside 6 - 12 inches of place between plant , depending on the variety . Water plant thoroughly .
SWEET ALYSSUM CARE
Pruning and deadheading:
young hybrids bloom nonstop and need no deadheading . For older cultivars , shear plants back by half in mid - summer and fertilize to stimulate new growth and flowers .
Soil:
For containers , use a qualityall - intention potting mixthat drain well . In the garden , soil should be well remediate with good drainage . sometime varieties are kind of poor soils and somewhat teetotal weather condition .
Amendments & fertilizer:
sweet-scented madwort are moderate feeders . contribute atime - release fertilizerto the dirt at the clock time of planting . When bloom are spent , applywater - soluble fertilizerto hasten new growth ; reapply monthly .
Watering:
Keep plant well - watered , but do n’t overwater . For containers , permit the top two inches of dirt to dry out between each watering . Check day by day in raging weather condition , as pots can dry out speedily . old varieties are more drouth - patient of , while newer crossbreed need more weewee .
Diseases and pests:
odoriferous alyssum is not prone to pests , but can get stem rot or leaf blight if plant in an overly moist site such as shade or a peat bog . seedling are susceptible to break - off disease .
Deer resistance
cervid have a lancinating sense of olfactory perception , which causes them to be drown by scented plant . Because of this , they will shun cherubic madwort .
For more on growing sweet alyssum:
follow with Sweet Alyssum
SWEET ALYSSUM VARIETIES
Photo : Proven victor
Snow Princess ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobulariahybrid
sprawl habit , with industrial plant reaching 4 - 8 inches tall , 24 - 48 inches wide-eyed , and branch track up to 24 column inch long
Bloom Time:
From the prison term of planting until the first hard frost
Color:
White
The whitened flowers — larger than most — are highly fragrant . Cold and estrus patient of , as well as vigorous , acquire lots of heyday all time of year long . Well - suited for containers , by itself or in compounding with other plants . Does not produce seed .
flush Princess ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobulariahybrid
sprawl habit , with plants reaching 4 - 8 inches tall , 24 - 36 inches wide-eyed , with branches give chase up to 36 inches long .
wan lavender
The exceptionally long trailing habit makes this a great choice for hanging baskets or containers . Performs best in large throne that can deal the higher lacrimation motive . Plant by itself or fuse with other vigorous flora . Does not produce seed .
Violet Knight ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobularia maritima
sprawl habit , with works attain 8 - 12 inches improbable , 18 - 24 inches wide , with branches tag up to 24 inches long .
Violet purple
The trailing habit make this a ripe choice for hang basketful and containers . Due to mellow water needs , place in magnanimous containers so that plants do n’t dry out during hot summer month . Combine with other vigorous agriculturalist . Does not produce seed .
Photo : Ball Horticultural Company
‘ Snow Crystals’Lobularia maritima
Mounding and spreading wont , with plant life reaching 4 - 10 column inch tall and 12 inches all-embracing .
previous leap to frost
An improvement over old varieties , with larger flowers , better heat tolerance , and a longer efflorescence time . The uniform habit make this a good choice for bedding displays , as a ground cover , along pathways and as border edging .
‘ Easter Bonnet Deep Pink’Lobularia maritima
Mounding and spreading habit , with plants reaching 4 - 10 inch tall and 10 - 12 column inch wide of the mark .
Early summertime to fall down
Rich pink
The mounding and spreading use make this a right choice for along tract and as edging in miscellaneous margin . Other colors in this series descend in tincture of violet , lavender , get up and pastel pink .
Photo : Paul2032 / The National Gardening Association / Creative Commons
Wonderland ® Deep RoseLobularia maritima
Mounding riding habit , with plant reaching 4 - 6 inches grandiloquent and 10 inches wide .
Early summertime to early fall
fat rosy pink
One of the most vivid pink variety , the thickset , undifferentiated drug abuse makes this a good choice between pavers , in rock music garden , or in container . Other color in this series come in spectre of white , pink , purple and lavender .
Photo : Steffen Hauser / botanikfoto / Alamy Stock Photo
‘ Violet Queen’Lobularia maritima
Mounding drug abuse , with plant reaching 4 - 6 inches tall and 12 in wide-cut .
give to mid - fall
Violet purple , with top peak fading to pale lavender
This compendious variety is good as a groundcover , along pathways , for rock garden and between pavers .
Photo : All - America Selections
‘ Royal Carpet’Lobularia maritima
mound habit , with industrial plant reaching 4 - 6 inches improbable and 10 - 12 inches wide .
Spring to fall
over-embellished , fade to pale lavender and white on top
One of the most coarse varieties , this dwarf strain is readily useable as seed or head start . Great for small blank , between pavers or as inch .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ALYSSUM
With so many use for perfumed alyssum , here are a few tips to consider when selecting :
For containers, hanging baskets and window boxes:
select shack varieties , and combine with other plant with upright and mounding habit for the “ thriller , makeweight , spiller ” effect .
For edging and between pavers:
practice varieties that stay summary so that plants do n’t pour forth into areas mean for walk .
For bedding displays:
Mass plants together for greater impingement , and to keep plantings in scale with the landscape painting .
ALYSSUM LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many style to comprise this versatile annual into any landscape painting . Here ’s how :
fresh alyssum combines well with many other plants , such asnemesia , pantywaist , stock , geranium , salvia , catmint , sedumsand roses .
