Lobularia maritima

Lobularia maritima, more commonly referred to as sweet alyssum, is a semi-groundcover herbaceous perennial native to parts of Europe.  Appearing in clusters that dominate the plant are four-petalled blooms of white, pink, or purple, which resemble tiny, colorful crosses.  These charming little blooms carry a sweet scent of honey and are typically produced twice per year, first in the spring and once more in the fall.  Due to its prolific growth and astounding reseeding ability, sweet alyssum is an excellent choice for covering landscapes or filling empty spaces along walkways.  Alternatively, sweet alyssum plants make fantastic hanging baskets with their wonderful blooms spilling out vibrance and fragrance.  When not in bloom, the petite, greyish-green leaves can be seen with their lance-like shape and numerous tiny hairs.  Though a perennial, sweet alyssum grows like an annual in colder climates as they do not typically survive harsh winters, though their numerous seeds often allow new growth to pop up in the spring.  

If your area is subject to periods of harsh dry heat, plant sweet alyssum where it will be shielded from the midday sun, as this can overly dry them out and cause scorching.  Otherwise, provide them with a location that receives 6–8 hours of continuous sunshine for optimal growth.  Any well-draining soil mixture is adequate for growing sweet alyssum, and they are even known to grow on sandy beach dunes and in the cracks of sidewalks.  A thorough watering once per week is adequate in temperate conditions, but an increase in frequency will be required during particularly hot or dry weather.  If planted on stone or in very sandy soil, the extreme level of drainage will increase the demand for water in the absence of rain.  In highly humid environments, more moisture will be retained by the plants, and consequently they should not require watering as often.  In particularly poor soil or when potted, sweet alyssum can be fed monthly during the growing season with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer.  However, over-fertilizing will encourage the plant to prioritize foliage growth over blooms, so feed with caution.  Learn more in the Plant Story community!

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Lobularia Maritima

Lobularia maritima

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