Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Care, watering, light and tips for Sweet alyssum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 5 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Sweet alyssum
Lobularia maritima, commonly known as "Sweet Alyssum", is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, forming dense mounds of small, fragrant flowers that can be white, pink, or purple. It's an excellent choice for borders, rockeries, and hanging baskets, where its profuse blooming creates a cascading effect. Its sweet scent attracts pollinators, adding life to the garden.
Native range
Mediterranean Region
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering, although it tolerates some partial shade in very hot climates. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate slightly moist but avoiding waterlogging, especially in summer. It prefers well-drained and not overly rich soils. A common mistake is not deadheading spent blooms, which can reduce flowering and vigor.
How to save a dying Sweet alyssum
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or wilting leaves, sparse or no flowering, weak growth.
- First aid
- Move to partial shade, water moderately only when soil is dry. Prune spent flowers.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (root rot) or intense direct sun without enough moisture.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. It's quite resilient if care is corrected.