*Approximately 200 seeds
ALYSSUM BASICS
Zones:
Annual up to Zone 8; short-lived perennial in Zones 9-11.
Height/Spread:
Sprawling or mounding habit, with plants growing 4-10 inches tall, 10-48 inches wide, with branches trailing up to 36 inches long.
Exposure:
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.
Bloom time:
Spring until the first hard frost.
Color and characteristics:
Plants have tiny, hairy, oval leaves that are green, blue-green, or variegated. Branching stems bear prolific clusters of 1/4-inch wide four-petaled blossoms. The delightful honey-scented flowers come in shades of white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, and apricot.
Types:
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.