How long does alyssum bloom

Sweet alyssum is attracts butterflies and is a pollinator magnet—hummingbirds love it too. Sprawling or mounding habit, with plants growing inches tall, inches wide, with branches trailing up to 36 inches long.

Sweet alyssum flowers best with at least six hours of full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. In warmer climates, plants perform best with protection from hot afternoon sun. Plants have tiny, hairy, oval leaves that are green, blue-green, or variegated. The delightful honey-scented flowers come in shades of white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, and apricot. Older varieties Lobularia maritima are easily grown from seed and self-sow readily from year to year in temperate climates.

Referred to as cool-season annuals, they are much more cold hardy than the newer hybrids, as well as being more drought tolerant. They bloom best in spring and fall, with a lull during hot summer months. A newer generation Lobularia hybrids were developed for extreme vigor and bigger plant size, and bloom nonstop throughout the growing season. These varieties take the heat much better than L.

They do not produce seed, so are only grown from cuttings. Sow seeds indoors in flats several weeks before the last average frost date in your region, or sow directly outdoors after all danger of frost is past. For nursery starts, plant outside any time after the last frost. In the garden, plant in full sun to partial shade in average, well-draining soil. For baskets and containers, make sure there is adequate drainage.

Broadcast alyssum seed in flats indoors, or well-amended soil outside. Keep moist until germination, days. Transplant seedlings when there are at least two sets of secondary leaves, allowing 6 inches of space between plants.

For containers, place plants in high quality, well-draining potting mix and allow inches of space between plants, depending on the variety. Water plants thoroughly. Newer hybrids flower nonstop and need no deadheading. For older cultivars, shear plants back by half in mid-summer and fertilize to stimulate new growth and flowers.

For containers, use a quality all-purpose potting mix that drains well. In the garden, soil should be well amended with good drainage.

Older varieties are tolerant of poorer soils and somewhat dry conditions. Sweet alyssum are moderate feeders. Add a time-release fertilizer to the soil at the time of planting. When blooms are spent, apply water-soluble fertilizer to stimulate new growth; reapply monthly.

For containers, allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between each watering. Check daily in hot weather, as pots can dry out quickly. Older varieties are more drought-tolerant, while newer hybrids need more water. Sweet alyssum is not prone to pests, but can get stem rot or leaf blight if planted in an overly moist site such as shade or a bog. Seedlings are susceptible to damping-off disease. The plants can be used as natural pest control in the vegetable garden to manage aphid infestations.

Parasitic wasps and syrphid flies consider alyssum pollen and nectar to be a tasty food source. The larvae of the latter feed on aphids, while the former will lay one tiny egg in an aphid. Whether you give them a head start indoors or head out to the garden with a seed packet come spring, here are some tips for growing sweet alyssum from seed.

There are a few varieties to choose from, but they all look pretty much the same except their colour. Grab a seed tray with cell inserts filled with a seed-starting mix.

With alyssum, it takes about one to two weeks. Or, consider using a heat mat , which can help with germination if your setup is in a cold room.

Place the tray under your grow lights or in a very bright, warm south-facing window. Once seedlings start to appear, gently thin so seedlings are about six inches 15 cm apart. I add sweet alyssum to the edges of my raised beds, in my ornamental containers, and any leftover seedlings usually fill any other holes I have in the garden among my perennials and any annuals I may have planted. Alyssum is easy to grow and is often still in bloom, well through the fall months—plants are usually among the last to remain in bloom!

Plant them about eight to 12 inches 20 to 30 cm apart. I always plant a healthy percentage of flowers in my raised beds, not only for summer bouquets, but also to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. And to add to their visual interest! In the summer, plants are always abuzz.

Tuck plants in the corners or between plants, or right at the edge of your raised bed, where it can cascade over the side. Plant alyssum seeds after all threats of heavy frosts have passed. A little light frost is okay. Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate usually in about eight to 10 days.

But you may want to lightly mist the soil until a seedling appears. Not clearing away the plants meant they would reseed for me. Because it is usually a white, pink, or purple color, sweet alyssum pairs well with many other plants and color schemes.

I have a fascination with growing whites and silvers together; this subtle color variation adds a world of texture and contrast paired with any other colors you choose.

Geraniums and pansies come to mind as nice companion plants for alyssum that look lovely side by side. Fortunately, all cultivars of this plant have similar growing habits.

Mixing them in beds and borders is a great way to get a little variety from this easy-care plant. You can directly sow your seeds into the garden within a week of the last freeze date and watch them grow, but because they take about 50 days to reach maturity, you might have better luck starting your L.

Start your seeds about weeks before the last frost date. Do not cover the seeds, just press them into the growing medium and water away! When planting in your garden, give them about 8 to 10 inches of space between plants to avoid overcrowding. Almost all alyssum cultivars will reach heights of about 4 to 8 inches and typically grow to form a inch mound.

The latter is a tetraploid that forms more regularly-shaped mounds of canopy-like blooms, similar to yarrow , and has a stronger aroma than other varieties, while the former tends to be a little more wild and is less rigid, with smaller flower clusters that max out at about 6 inches in height.

It maxes out at 3 inches tall, germinates in a week or less, and is perfect for growing between pavers. This would be my top pick, because of the more subdued tones. Add some near your herb garden, and brace yourself for a world of aromas to enjoy every day in the summer. This has been a staple in my garden for years, and it will continue to be. Reliable plants tend not to be very appealing if you ask me , but L. Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think about L. See our TOS for more details.

Product photos via JR Peters Inc. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu. Matt Suwak was reared by the bear and the bobcat and the coyote of rural Pennsylvania.