Alyssum

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Common Name

Alyssum

Scientific Name

Alyssum spp

Plant Category

Annual, perennial

Location

Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region.

Height

6-9 inches

Width

4-6 inches

Blooming Season

Late spring to early fall

Plant Habit

Low-growing

Color

White, pink, violet, purple and lavender

Sun

Partial shade to full sun

Soil

Medium moist soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Attractive to bees, butterflies or birds. Fragrant flowers, especially the white ones. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. Fast-growing.

Usage

Usually used as border plants. Makes an excellent ground cover, and can fill in any gaps in flower beds.

Information

Alyssum flowers are beautiful, delicate plants that come in a variety of colors.  Alyssums have about 100-170 species of flowering plants. They are small and easy to grow. They are usually grown in shades of lavender, pink, and white with green foliage. They have a profusion of flowers, with white being the most popular. The flowers produce a very nice delicate scent and make a terrific accent plant for any garden. One popular species is the sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritime.

Growing Tips

In order to maintain alyssum flowers, they need full sun in the peak hours, and then some partial shade in the afternoon.  They do well in average soils and can tolerate dry soil conditions. They benefit best from soils with good drainage. The soil should be a little bit dry, at least for the first few weeks until they begin blooming. Regular trimmings are necessary to ensure that they stay healthy and produce new growth. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. Space plants eight to ten inches apart. Sow seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil.

Common Problems

Alyssums are commonly resistant to insects and disease. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide. They also do not tolerate frost well. Downy mildew can cause leaf lesions that are light green then yellow. A downy growth forms on both sides of the leaves in the yellow zone. A wilt disease can attack the stems during wet weather and a cobwebby growth may develop. Parts of the plants above the infection wilt and die. The lower leaves rot, shrink, and shrivel.