Description
Lobularia – Sweet Alyssum –
There are about 5 species of low, mound forming or spreading, hairy annuals and perennials in this genus. They occur from seashores, disturbed ground, and stony slopes in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. They have narrow, linear-lance shaped to oblong, light to mid green leaves. In summer and early autumn they bear cross shaped, 4 petalled, often scented flowers in compact, sometime corymb like, terminal racemes that elongate in fruit. Grown for their flowers, they are useful for the edges of a gravel drive or to fill paving cracks, and are very tolerant of maritime conditions.
Grow in light, moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Clip after first flush of bloom to encourage further flowering.
Prone to downy mildew, slugs, flea beetles, club rot, and white blister.
L. maritima – Alyssum maritimum – This fast growing, freely branching, usually compact, low growing annual from the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands grows 3-12″ tall and 8-12″ wide. It produces lance shaped, slightly hairy, gray-green leaves, 1 1/4″ long. From spring to early fall it bears tiny, 4 petalled, cross shaped, slightly cupped, honey scented, white, occasionally pale purple-pink flowers in rounded, corymb-like racemes, 1-3″ across.
‘New Purple’ – grows 4″ tall and is very compact, and long flowering, with purple flowers shading to a lighter tone at the petal edges
Zones 10-11
