Common name: Sweet Alyssum
Family: Brassicaceae, Mustard
Height x width: 4-8" x 10-15"
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: alternate, linear or lanceolate, entire margins
Flowers: small terminal racemes; white, pink, lavender; strong scent desired by some and despised by others
Hardiness: annual (not to be confused with perennial Alyssum)
Soil: well-drained
Light: sun prefered
Pests and problems: damping-off of seedlings, root rots from poor drainage, botrytis blight especially in wet weather
Landscape habit, uses: edging, masses in front of borders, rock gardens, containers, fine texture
Other interest: native to Mediterranean
Other culture: may stop flowering in periods of extreme heat, purple cultivars prefer cool, space 6" apart
Propagation: seed indoors with germination in 8 days (70,000 seeds/oz.)
Species:
maritima (mar-it' eh-mah)--meaning "pertaining to the sea" refering
to native coastal habitat, only species commonly grown
Cultivars: (of maritima), those marked * are most commonly
seen
| Cultivars, other taxa | height, in. | flowers | other |
| 'Aphrodite Mix' | 3 | various | vivid colors, new |
| 'Apricot Shades' | 3-4 | apricot | unique, variable color |
| *'Carpet of Snow' | 4-6 | white | |
| Easter Basket Hybrids | 4 | various | |
| *Easter Bonnet series | 4 | various | uniform, early series |
| 'New Carpet of Snow' | 3-4 | white | more uniform, compact |
| *'Oriental Night' | 4 | dark violet purple | |
| 'Pastel Carpet' | 3-4 | mix | |
| *'Rosie O'Day' | 4 | lavender-rose | |
| 'Royal Carpet' | 3 | rich violet | |
| 'Snow Crystals' | 4-6 | white | large flowers, tolerates heat |
| 'Sweet White' | 3-4 | white | honey fragrance |
| 'Tiny Tim' | 3 | white | early |
| 'Trailing Rosy-Red' | 3-4 | rosy-red | good for containers |
| 'Violet Queen' | 5 | clear violet | |
| Wonderland Hybrids | 4 | red, white, purple |
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