Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
A low, spreading annual smothered in tiny honey-scented flowers, sweet alyssum is a classic edging and container filler that blooms from spring through frost.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Sweet alyssum is a fast-growing, mat-forming member of the mustard family prized for its frothy clouds of tiny four-petaled flowers and a sweet, honey-like fragrance that draws pollinators.
Though often grown as an annual, it is a short-lived perennial in mild climates. It thrives in cool weather, often slowing in midsummer heat and rebounding in fall, and reseeds freely to return year after year.
How to identify it
- Habit: Low, spreading mounds 3-8 in tall and up to 12 in wide
- Flowers: Dense clusters of tiny 4-petaled blooms in white, pink, lavender, or purple
- Fragrance: Distinctly sweet and honey-like
- Leaves: Small, narrow, lance-shaped, grayish-green
- Bloom time: Spring through frost, heaviest in cool weather
Care & growing
Light: Full sun gives the best bloom, though it tolerates light afternoon shade in hot regions.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist; it dislikes drying out completely but also resents soggy roots.
Soil: Well-drained, average garden soil.
Temperature: Loves cool conditions (around 60-70F); may stall in extreme heat.
Feeding: Light feeding monthly; too much nitrogen reduces flowering.
Propagation: Easy from seed sown on the surface (needs light to germinate); often self-sows. Shear back leggy plants to rejuvenate bloom.
Habitat & origin
Native to the Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands, and the Azores, where it grows on sandy coastal soils and rocky slopes.
It has naturalized widely in temperate and coastal areas around the world and is one of the most popular bedding annuals globally, grown in borders, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and as a living mulch in vegetable plots.
Uses & benefits
Ornamental: A premier edging, ground-cover, and spiller plant for containers and window boxes.
Ecological: A magnet for bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects; often interplanted with vegetables to attract aphid-eating predators.
Fragrance: Valued for its sweet scent that perfumes patios and walkways.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my sweet alyssum stop blooming in summer?
Heat stress is the usual cause. Shear the plants back by a third and keep them watered, and they typically rebound with fresh bloom when temperatures cool.
Does sweet alyssum come back every year?
It is a tender perennial grown as an annual in most climates. It self-seeds readily, so volunteer seedlings often return even where the parent plant dies.
Is sweet alyssum safe around pets?
Yes, it is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Can I grow it in containers?
Absolutely. Its trailing, mounding habit makes it an excellent spiller in hanging baskets and mixed pots.
Sweet Alyssum guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Sweet Alyssum.
