Scientific name: Lobularia maritima
Family: BRASSICACEAE
Common names: “Alyssum” “Sweet alyssum”
Plant Type: Annual
Conditions:
Zone: Hardy to -5°C
Light: Full sun – semi-shade
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed
Soil: Moderately fertile – almost any
Moisture: Moist well drained
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 2-12″ W 8-12″, fast growing
Leaf and Stem shape: Small, grey-green leaves
Flower: Dense racemes of 4-petaled flowers in shades of purple, pink and white, flowers attract bees and beneficial insects
Pruning: N/a
Maintenance: Just rip them out after bloom and get new seedlings
Landscape use: Edging and carpeting beds, between stones, over rock walls, seaside, cover gaps left by spring bulbs
Propagate: By seed
Pests & Disease: Can get downy mildew in a wet spring
Comments: Good plant for garden health
Cultivars: ~AGM winners: L. m. ‘Wonderland White’ , L. m. Golf Series , L. m. ‘Rosie O’Day’ , L. m. ‘Snowdrift’ , L. m. ‘Violet Queen’ , L. m. Easter Bonnet Series
Vancouver Island Grows 