LOBULARIA maritima Alyssum, Sweet Alyssum ____________________________________ Type: Annual Height: 3-6" (10-15cm) Flowering Time: Spring, Summer Flower Colour: White, apricot, pink, mauve ____________________________________ 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) ____________________________________

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:

	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.
Seed sowing and Germination Summer: Seeds sown inside in summer germinated in a few days. Autumn: Seeds sown in a heated propagator in autumn germinated in 2 days.