What is an alyssum flower?
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), also known as alyssum, is a species of low-growing plants that is part of the mustard family. It is a fast-growing plant that blooms white, pink, red, violet, yellow, and lilac flower clusters and has narrow green leaves.
What is Alyssum used for?
Sweet alyssum attracts beneficial insects to your vegetable and flower gardens and can ward off insect pests that can damage other plants. The ground cover attracts hoverfiles, and the larvae of these pests are natural predators for aphids, making sweet alyssum a suitable companion plant for rose gardens.
What does the name alyssum mean?
It’s quite a contrast then, to know that the name alyssum actually comes from the Greek word “lyssa” meaning “rage” or “madness” and the “a” meaning “against” giving it its meaning today, “without madness”.
What does alyssum flower look like?
They are small plants that may get 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm.) tall and produce clusters of tiny flowers in clumps. The blooms come in pink, salmon, purple, white, and yellow. Flowers arise from June to October and can be encouraged to rebloom by cutting back spent flowers.
What does alyssum smell like?
Each tiny flower has four petals. Many flowers are clustered together in dense terminal heads (racemes) and the plants may bloom so profusely that the foliage is completely obscured. The sweet smelling flowers have a honey-like fragrance and are very attractive to bees, flower flies, stingless wasps and butterflies.
How does alyssum grow?
Grow alyssum in well-drained, humusy soil that holds moisture well in the summer. Hot, dry spells cause alyssum to stop flowering and potentially dieback. Alyssum needs at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun to flower well.
What does alyssum taste like?
Culinary Uses of Alyssum (Lobularia maritima). The flowers and even the young leaves are edible. They are quite pungent and taste a little like broccoli leaf but a little more spicy.
Are alyssum flowers edible?
The low-growing habit of sweet alyssum makes it a great border plant. Did you know the leaves and flowers of sweet alyssum are edible? They make a peppery addition to a fresh garden salad.
Where does alyssum grow?
Soil. Sweet alyssum plants prefer soil that is moist and well-draining. They’re tolerant of many different planting locations and on sandy beaches and dunes. It can also grow on cultivated fields, walls, slopes, and even in cracks in sidewalks or walls.
Which flower has the best fragrance in the world?
10 of the best fragrant flowers
- Rose. This heady, timeless, classic scent is evocative of traditional English country gardens.
- Lily. The lily really knows how to make a statement in the home.
- Freesia. Few fragrances shout ‘spring’ quite like the fresh scent of freesia.
- Gardenia.
- Lavender.
- Hyacinth.
- Tuberose.
- Lilac.
Alyssum foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera , including the Gem (Orthonama obstipata).
Is Alyssum an annual or a perennial?
Alyssum. The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10–100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves. Alyssum flowers are characteristically small and grouped in terminal clusters; they are often yellow or white colored but can be pink or purple.
What does Alyssum look like?
Alyssum are small plants, growing just three to nine inches tall, depending upon variety. Dainty Alyssum plants have a profusion of flowers, with white being the most popular. Flower varieties also include: pink, violet, purple and lavender.
Is an Alyssum a perenial plant?
Zones: Annual up to Zone 8; short-lived perennial in Zones 9-11.