Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Also listed as Alyssum maritimum, Clypeola maritima
Also known as Alyssum, Sweet Alison, Seaside Lobularia
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing annual or short-lived perennial with delicate, honey-scented flowers in white, pink, or purple. It spreads readily and blooms continuously in cool to moderate temperatures.
Why grow it
Sweet alyssum offers dense, low-profile ground cover with continuous bloom in conditions where many flowering annuals struggle, particularly in cool seasons and partial shade. Its fragrance and small clustered flowers attract beneficial insects, making it useful for integrated pest management plantings. Unlike taller companion flowers, its compact growth habit makes it well-suited for edging, containers, and between pavers without requiring deadheading to maintain flowering.
Watch out for
In warm climates or during extended heat, flowering may slow or plants may decline unless provided afternoon shade and consistent moisture. Self-seeding can be prolific in suitable conditions, so remove spent flower heads if volunteer seedlings are unwanted the following season. Performance as a perennial is unreliable outside mild climates; most gardeners treat it as an annual or replace it seasonally.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing annual or short-lived perennial with delicate, honey-scented flowers in white, pink, or purple. It spreads readily and blooms continuously in cool to moderate temperatures.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sweet Alyssum grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sweet alyssum offers dense, low-profile ground cover with continuous bloom in conditions where many flowering annuals struggle, particularly in cool seasons and partial shade. Its fragrance and small clustered flowers attract beneficial insects, making it useful for integrated pest management plantings. Unlike taller companion flowers, its compact growth habit makes it well-suited for edging, containers, and between pavers without requiring deadheading to maintain flowering.
Watch out for
In warm climates or during extended heat, flowering may slow or plants may decline unless provided afternoon shade and consistent moisture. Self-seeding can be prolific in suitable conditions, so remove spent flower heads if volunteer seedlings are unwanted the following season. Performance as a perennial is unreliable outside mild climates; most gardeners treat it as an annual or replace it seasonally.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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