AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
Snow Princess ® sweetened madwort makes a vigorous flowering groundcover . photograph : Proven Winners
One of the most enduring garden annuals is cherubic alyssum . This old - meter favorite produces dainty honey - scented flowers throughout the growing time of year . The mounding or trailing habit is well - accommodate for containers , hang baskets and garden layer .
A member of the mustard family , cherubic alyssum is forgiving of varying soil and clear conditions . Native to the Mediterranean , this reliable heirloom overwinters as a dead - lived perennial in warmer regions .
Sweet alyssum is attracts butterfly stroke and is a pollinator magnet — hummingbirds get laid it too . With so much going for it , what ’s not to like ?
On this page : The Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Choosing the Right Alyssum|Landscaping tip
ALYSSUM BASICS
Zones:
one-year up to Zone 8 ; short - survive perennial in Zones 9 - 11 .
Height/Spread:
Sprawling or mound habit , with plants acquire 4 - 10 inches marvellous , 10 - 48 inches panoptic , with branches trailing up to 36 inches long .
Exposure:
Sweet alyssum prime best with at least six hour of full sun , but can tolerate partial shadiness . In warmer mood , plants do best with protection from hot good afternoon sun .
Bloom time:
Spring until the first toilsome Robert Frost .
Color and characteristics:
plant have tiny , hairy , oval leave that are unripened , juicy - fleeceable , or variegated . furcate stems bear prolific bunch of 1/4 - inch wide four - petaled blossoms . The delightful dear - scented flowers occur in shadowiness of white , pinkish , ascend , lavender , purple , and apricot .
Types:
old variety ( Lobularia maritima ) are easily grown from seed and self - sow readily from year to year in temperate climates . have-to doe with to as nerveless - time of year annuals , they are much more inhuman hardy than the new hybrids , as well as being more drought large-minded . They bloom best in saltation and fall , with a lull during hot summer month .
A newer generation ( Lobulariahybrids ) were developed for uttermost vigor and bragging plant sizing , and bloom nonstop throughout the growing time of year . These variety take the heat much better thanL. maritimatypes , but are not drought large-minded . They do not bring out come , so are only develop from cuttings .
Toxicity:
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
When to plant:
Sow seeds indoors in flat several weeks before the last mediocre icing date in your area , or sow direct outdoors after all risk of frost is past . For nursery starts , plant outside any time after the last frost .
Where to plant:
In the garden , plant life in full sun to partial shade in mediocre , well - draining grime . For handbasket and container , check that there is adequate drainage .
How to plant:
Broadcast madwort seed in flats indoors , or well - amended soil out of doors . Do n’t continue seed , as spark will assist in germination . Keep moist until sprouting , 7 - 20 years . Transplant seedling when there are at least two sets of secondary leaves , allowing 6 inches of space between plants .
For containers , property plants in high quality , well - draining potting mix and let 6 - 12 in of infinite between plants , depending on the variety . water system plant thoroughly .
SWEET ALYSSUM CARE
Pruning and deadheading:
Newer crossbreed flower nonstop and need no deadheading . For older cultivars , shear plant life back by one-half in mid - summer and fertilise to get new ontogenesis and flowers .
Soil:
For containers , habituate a qualityall - purpose potting mixthat drain well . In the garden , soil should be well amended with near drainage . old varieties are tolerant of poor soil and somewhat dry condition .
Amendments & fertilizer:
mellifluous madwort are restrained feeder . lend atime - discharge fertilizerto the soil at the sentence of planting . When blossom are spent , applywater - soluble fertilizerto stimulate fresh maturation ; reapply monthly .
Watering:
Keep plant life well - water , but do n’t overwater . For containers , grant the top two inches of soil to dry out out between each watering . Check daily in blistering weather , as mint can dry out quickly . Older varieties are more drought - tolerant , while new hybrids need more piss .
Diseases and pests:
Sweet alyssum is not prone to pests , but can get stem rot or leaf blight if engraft in an to a fault moist site such as tad or a peat bog . Seedlings are susceptible to damping - off disease .
Deer resistance
Deer have a keen signified of smell , which induce them to be whelm by scented works . Because of this , they will shun sweet madwort .
For more on growing sweet alyssum:
Succeeding with Sweet Alyssum
SWEET ALYSSUM VARIETIES
Photo : Proven Winners
Snow Princess ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobulariahybrid
Sprawling habit , with plants reaching 4 - 8 inch tall , 24 - 48 inch wide , and branches drag up to 24 inches long
Bloom Time:
From the time of planting until the first gruelling frost
Color:
White
The blank flower — larger than most — are highly fragrant . cold-blooded and warmth tolerant , as well as vigorous , producing lots of efflorescence all time of year long . Well - suit for containers , by itself or in combining with other plants . Does not get seed .
redden Princess ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobulariahybrid
straggle drug abuse , with plants reaching 4 - 8 inches tall , 24 - 36 inches across-the-board , with offset drop behind up to 36 inches long .
Pale lavender
The exceptionally long trailing habit makes this a great choice for cling baskets or containers . perform best in large pots that can treat the gamey watering penury . Plant by itself or combine with other vigorous plants . Does not produce ejaculate .
Violet Knight ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersLobularia maritima
Sprawling habit , with plants reach 8 - 12 inches marvelous , 18 - 24 inches wide , with branches trailing up to 24 inches long .
Violet purple
The trailing habit makes this a estimable choice for hanging basket and containers . Due to higher water need , place in larger containers so that plants do n’t dry out out during hot summertime calendar month . Combine with other vigorous growers . Does not bring on seed .
pic : Ball Horticultural Company
‘ Snow Crystals’Lobularia maritima
Mounding and spreading habit , with plants touch 4 - 10 inches tall and 12 inch broad .
Late outpouring to frost
An improvement over older multifariousness , with larger bloom , good heat permissiveness , and a prospicient flower meter . The uniform riding habit makes this a good option for bedding displays , as a groundcover , along nerve tract and as perimeter edging .
‘ Easter Bonnet Deep Pink’Lobularia maritima
Mounding and disperse habit , with plant life strain 4 - 10 inches tall and 10 - 12 inches broad .
Early summer to fall
Rich pink
The mounding and circularise habit realise this a good choice for along pathways and as edging in mixed borders . Other colors in this series do in shades of reddish blue , lavender , rose and pastel pinko .
Photo : Paul2032 / The National Gardening Association / Creative Commons
Wonderland ® Deep RoseLobularia maritima
mound habit , with plant reaching 4 - 6 inches tall and 10 inches broad .
other summer to early evenfall
robust rosy pink
One of the most vivid pinkish varieties , the compact , uniform habit make this a proficient choice between pavers , in sway gardens , or in containers . Other colours in this series follow in shades of blank , pink , purple and lavender .
Photo : Steffen Hauser / botanikfoto / Alamy Stock Photo
‘ Violet Queen’Lobularia maritima
Mounding use , with plant reaching 4 - 6 inches improbable and 12 inches wide .
Spring to mid - devolve
Violet purple , with top blossoms fleet to pale lavender
This summary variety is good as a groundcover , along pathways , for rock garden and between pavers .
Photo : All - America Selections
‘ Royal Carpet’Lobularia maritima
mound habit , with plants reach 4 - 6 inches marvellous and 10 - 12 inches wide .
Spring to fall
Purple , fading to pale lavender and white on top
One of the most common variety , this nanus figure is readily usable as seed or starts . Great for small spaces , between pavers or as edging .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ALYSSUM
With so many U.S. for sweet alyssum , here are a few steer to consider when choose :
For containers, hanging baskets and window boxes:
Choose trail varieties , and combine with other flora with just and mounding habits for the “ thriller , filler , spiller ” effect .
For edging and between pavers:
Use varieties that stay compact so that plants do n’t spill into area meant for walking .
For bedding displays:
Mass plants together for expectant impact , and to keep planting in scale with the landscape painting .
ALYSSUM LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many ways to incorporate this various annual into any landscape painting . Here ’s how :
fresh genus Alyssum conflate well with many other industrial plant , such asnemesia , pansies , lineage , geranium , salvia , catmint , sedumsand roses .
