Key Features
- Produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers with a charming low-growing habit.
- Compact annual with spreading stems and finely textured green foliage.
- Ideal for borders, containers, hanging baskets, rock gardens, and cottage gardens.
- Performs best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.
- Useful as an edging or filler plant around taller flowers and ornamental plants.
Growing Benefits
- Adds delicate color and fragrance to garden spaces.
- Compact growth is well suited to containers and smaller planting areas.
- Works beautifully as an edging or low-growing filler.
- Attracts bees and other beneficial insects to flowering areas.
- Provides a simple way to add texture to mixed garden displays.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Sweet Alyssum
- Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima
- Plant Type: Annual flowering plant
- Colors: White, pink, lavender, and purple depending on variety
- Height: Approximately four to eight inches
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
- Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during establishment
- Germination Time: Approximately five to ten days under favorable conditions
- Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly
- Spacing: Approximately six to eight inches
- Growing Zones: Commonly grown as an annual; perennial in some mild climates
- Flowering/Maturity: Often begins flowering within several weeks under suitable conditions
- Uses: Borders, containers, hanging baskets, rock gardens, edging, flower beds, and cottage gardens
Growing Tips
- Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press them gently into the growing medium.
- Choose a sunny or lightly shaded location with good drainage.
- Keep the soil evenly moist during germination and early growth.
- Trim plants lightly after flowering to encourage fresh growth and maintain a neat shape.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Keep them in their original packet or an airtight container protected from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Lobularia maritima is the botanical name for sweet alyssum.
- Sweet alyssum belongs to the mustard family, Brassicaceae.
- Its tiny flowers are known for their sweet fragrance, particularly during mild weather.
- The plant's low, spreading growth makes it popular for edging and filling spaces between taller plants.