Sweet alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Sweet alyssum is an annual for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
| Type | Annual |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 15 cm |
| Spread | 30 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 7a-9b, RHS H3 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 15 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 7a to 9b and rated H3 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, chalk soil, pollinator-friendly plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Sweet alyssum's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Perennial Wallflower 'Bowles's Mauve'to edge in front
- Rosemaryfor height behind it
- Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'for height behind it
- Wallflowerto edge in front
- Crocosmia 'Lucifer'for height behind it
- Globe Thistlefor height behind it