Lobularia maritima

LOBULARIA maritima
Alyssum, Sweet Alyssum

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Type:
Annual

Height: 3-6" (10-15cm)

Flowering Time: Spring, Summer

Flower Colour: White, apricot, pink, mauve

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Botanical Classification:

Class:
Angiospermae (Angiosperms)

Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons)

Superorder: Dilleniiidae (Dillenia Superorder)

Order: Capparales (Caper Order)

Family: Brassicaceae (Cabbage Family)
(formerly Cruciferae)

Genus: Lobularia (Lobularia)

Species: maritima (of the seashore)

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Lobularia maritima is one of the most well-known flowers for the summer border, although it is more usually known by its previous name of Alyssum. It forms a dense mound of small green leaves, covered from late spring in dense heads of tiny white flowers. It is a favourite of council bedding schemes, when it is often teamed with bright blue Lobelia and red Salvia.
Lobularia maritima is fully hardy, and although a short-lived perennial, it is more usually grown as an annual. As well as white, hybrids are also available in various shades of pink and mauve. Its common names of Sweet Alyssum and Sweet Alison indicate it is perfumed.
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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

Germination:
Summer
Inside (5 days)
Autumn
Propagator (2 days)

Seed Pod Each small flower produces a flat round seedpod, and the flower stalk grows longer
as the seeds ripen.
Seed The seeds are yellowish oval discs. There is one seed in each half of the seedpod, with
a white papery skin between the halves.
Seedling The seedling is bright green, with rounded seedleaves. The first true leaves are longer
and narrower.

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				Germination: Summer Inside (5 days) Autumn Propagator (2 days)
Seed Pod Each small flower produces a flat round seedpod, and the flower stalk grows longer as the seeds ripen. Seed The seeds are yellowish oval discs. There is one seed in each half of the seedpod, with a white papery skin between the halves. Seedling The seedling is bright green, with rounded seedleaves. The first true leaves are longer and narrower.