Lobularia maritimaSweet Alyssum

Lobularia maritima, the Sweet Alyssum, is a low Mediterranean spreader of 0.1 to 0.3 metres that covers itself in dense heads of tiny honey-scented flowers in white, pink or purple. The scent is out of all proportion to the size of the plant.

It is used as edging, as a filler between pavers and as seasonal mass colour, and in hot climates it performs as a cool-season bedding plant rather than a permanent cover.

Specifications

• Height0.1 to 0.3 metres
• Width0.2 to 0.4 metres
• Native toThe Mediterranean basin
• FoliageSmall narrow grey-green leaves on soft spreading stems; evergreen in mild climates
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers free-draining soils and tolerates poor sandy and coastal ground
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• ClimateThrives in Mediterranean, temperate and coastal regions; grown as a cool-season plant in hot climates

Additional Features

• FlowersDense heads of tiny honey-scented white, pink or purple flowers over long periods
• UsesIdeal for edging, mass seasonal bedding, gaps in paving, rockeries and containers
• SpacingPlant 0.15 to 0.25 metres apart for continuous cover
• Low MaintenanceShear lightly after the main flush to bring on a second round of flower
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound with basic care
• Wildlife AttractionFlowers are worked heavily by bees and hoverflies
• Salt ToleranceTolerates coastal exposure and salt-laden wind
• Drought ToleranceCopes with dry spells on free-draining ground

Sweet Alyssum is the low-cost way to add scent and softness to an edge, and it draws pollinators to everything planted around it.