Sweet alyssum
Sweet alyssum: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Sweet alyssum is Lobularia maritima, a member of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. Its familiar name alyssum comes from an earlier classification, but it now belongs to Lobularia. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is known for small scented flower clusters and low growth. It is frequently used as an annual, although it can be a short-lived perennial where conditions are sufficiently mild.Stems branch close to the base and form a small spreading cushion. Some selections remain compact, while others become broader or trail. The simple, alternate leaves are small, oval to lance-shaped and generally grey green. Tiny hairs can give the foliage a soft-looking surface. Leaves and fine branches create a background for the many flower clusters, with texture remaining visible around their edges and between the stems.The tiny flowers have four petals arranged in a cross, a characteristic of the cabbage family. They gather in short racemes, dense towards…
