I passed beneath the arbor, unlatched the kissing gate and started down the Long Walk: a stretch of gray cobblestones set amongst a carpet of white alyssum.”
Kate Morton, author, The House at Riverton
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) has become my go-to flower for the low-spreading look of a white lacy blanket in my garden. Alyssum is simple to cultivate and grow and is completely low maintenance. Yet it gives off a stunning soft look from afar with its tiny, delicate flowers; brings out the color of other plants; and its subtle sweet scent wafts in the air.
Perhaps that is why they are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which can never get enough of the flowers’ sweetness.
I cannot help but to stop and smell the flowers when I’m in the garden, grateful I do not suffer from allergies. Alyssum surprises me every year with its subtle, yet brilliant white petals, which discretely spread out in alluring beauty.
And while we enjoy splashes of color in our gardens—golds, pinks, lavenders, blues—there is something captivating in the pure, clean appearance of white. They complement their neighboring flowers well and enhance their presence.
Alyssum comes in a few varieties. A popular variety is Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis), which, as the names suggests, blooms yellow or gold. The sweet alyssum I grow blooms white flowers.
Some alyssum, such as Basket-of-Gold, is perennial, returning year after year. However, the sweet alyssum I grow is annual, so I replant the seeds each year.
Planting alyssum seeds
This year, for the first time, I started the alyssum indoors, from seeds, which is the cheaper route. Within days they began stretching out of the soil and soon I had dainty seedlings sprouting. I only planted two tiny (I mean tiny) seeds per cell or planting cup. My seed packet contained 2,500 seeds, so they should last awhile!
A week after the last deep frost we had at the end of April, I planted the seedlings in the ground. I also, just for fun, dropped a few extra seeds in the ground to see what would happen. As always, I wondered if the seeds and seedlings would bloom. The seedlings always look so scrawny. And my clay soil is moist, which is not a favorite of alyssum. But the area of the garden is in full sun, all day, which alyssum adores.
After a few weeks, the alyssum showed some promise.
Both patience and dealing with disappointment come into play when gardening, and my alyssum was no exception.
I had planted three seedlings in another area of the garden and only one made it. While I am heartbroken my time and efforts did not fully produce all the seeds I planted, the alyssum doesn’t disappoint. While only one seedling continued to flourish, it has spread, and by fall it will have covered several feet of ground.
The larger section of alyssum has spread tremendously. Alyssum grows anywhere from one to six inches. Deadheading the flowers (cutting off the dead flowers) will help the plant continue to bloom.
Container friendly alyssum
Alyssum is a beautiful addition to containers. Since the flowers tend to hang or spill over when elevated, such as when they are in a pot, they tend to look similar to a lacy curtain.
Remember, just a few seedlings will spread, so allow room for the growth when planting other plants and flowers.
Alyssum needs full sun to thrive, so plant them with other sun-loving flowers. They begin blooming early summer and typically last until the fall when the first fall frost strikes.
You can begin the seedlings indoors, or you may wait to plant them outdoors after the last frost. You can always take the container inside if severe weather threatens your area.
When sowing seeds directly, it is best to plant the seeds six inches apart. Simply drop the seeds and barely cover with a bit of soil, enough so they won’t blow away, but not too much you bury them because the sunlight is a necessary aid in their growth. Within a couple weeks, you should begin to see the seedlings emerge. And what a thrill that becomes!
Keep in mind your alyssum will be a complement to whatever else you plant in your container. You might start by choosing your feature, sun-loving plant, and then one or two (or more, depending on the size of your container) other sun-loving plants and flowers to add to your design.
Since they will be in a container, you will need to check the moisture and water more often than you would if the plants were in the ground. But alyssum is a hardy plant and thrives in most situations.
The elegance and sweetness of alyssum will be a delight no matter where you plant them. These easy-to-care-for plants are as simple as drop the seeds, lightly water, and enjoy all summer. Perfect for the busy, on-the-go person who loves flowers.
