Lobularia
( lob - yew - LAY - ree - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationLobularia, also called Sweet Alison or Sweet Alyssum, is a genus filled with flowering plants that need full sun and regular water for best performance. These flowers will attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. Bloom colors range from white to pink or purple and have a scent similar to honey. Lobularias are perfect for informal beds and as spillers in containers or hanging baskets. Plants reach 1 foot tall and wide and most are self-seeding; their seeds are sometimes included in wildflower mixes.
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Lobelia Species and Varietals
The genus Lobularia includes five species and is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae. Lobularia grows in all zones. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Lobelia maritima (Sweet Alyssum, Sweet Alison, Alyssum)
Native to the Mediterranean, this species varies in flower and color and habit, though reseeding volunteers tend to revert back to a plant that is tall, leggy and bears smaller whitish flowers.
Native to the Mediterranean, this species varies in flower and color and habit, though reseeding volunteers tend to revert back to a plant that is tall, leggy and bears smaller whitish flowers.
'Carpet of Snow'
2-4 inches tall with white flowers. |
'Rosie O'Day'
2-4 inches tall with lavender-pink flowers. |
'Snow Crystals'
10 inches tall with a trailing habit. |
'Clear Crystal' Series
10 inches tall and 14 inches wide with flowers in white, rose, pink, lavender, peach, lemonade and violet. |
Caring for Lobularia
Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as they are considered invasive in California and Hawai'i. Check with local authorities before planting.
Grow Lobularia in a space in the garden that receives full sun. Ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day, but in the warmest regions, they do like to have some afternoon shade when temperatures are the warmest. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). These plants can handle a variety of substrates, including sandy and rocky soils. They can grow in crevices on walls, on severely sloped areas, and even in cracks in the sidewalk. They do not do well in boggy conditions. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Lobularia regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity these plants like to have regular waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water any time the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. If growing these plants in rocky or sandy soils, they will need to be watered a bit more often, since these substrates do not hold onto water as well as others.
In the ground, these plants do not need to be fertilized. If growing them in containers, it is a good idea to apply an inch of compost each year in springtime. Take care to not over-fertilize these flowers, as doing so can cause plants to put on a lot of foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Deadhead these plants regularly to keep them blooming over a longer season. Some varieties will self-seed and produce volunteers. If this is not desired, make sure to prune off flower inflorescences before they go to seed. If grown in too much shade, they can become a bit leggy. Shear these plants back to encourage a bushier growth habit to emerge. At the end of the growing season when Lobularia plants fade, they can be cut back. In areas with cold winters, cover plants with frost cloths when temperatures drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing Lobularia in Containers
Lobularia is a popular choice for filling in bares spaces in containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Make sure that the chosen container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom before planting. The ideal substrate for Lobularia is well-draining and relatively light. They can grow well in sandy or rocky soils. Water regularly; Lobularia grown in containers can dry out much more quickly than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Grow Lobularia in a space in the garden that receives full sun. Ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day, but in the warmest regions, they do like to have some afternoon shade when temperatures are the warmest. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). These plants can handle a variety of substrates, including sandy and rocky soils. They can grow in crevices on walls, on severely sloped areas, and even in cracks in the sidewalk. They do not do well in boggy conditions. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Lobularia regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity these plants like to have regular waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water any time the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. If growing these plants in rocky or sandy soils, they will need to be watered a bit more often, since these substrates do not hold onto water as well as others.
In the ground, these plants do not need to be fertilized. If growing them in containers, it is a good idea to apply an inch of compost each year in springtime. Take care to not over-fertilize these flowers, as doing so can cause plants to put on a lot of foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Deadhead these plants regularly to keep them blooming over a longer season. Some varieties will self-seed and produce volunteers. If this is not desired, make sure to prune off flower inflorescences before they go to seed. If grown in too much shade, they can become a bit leggy. Shear these plants back to encourage a bushier growth habit to emerge. At the end of the growing season when Lobularia plants fade, they can be cut back. In areas with cold winters, cover plants with frost cloths when temperatures drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing Lobularia in Containers
Lobularia is a popular choice for filling in bares spaces in containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Make sure that the chosen container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom before planting. The ideal substrate for Lobularia is well-draining and relatively light. They can grow well in sandy or rocky soils. Water regularly; Lobularia grown in containers can dry out much more quickly than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Propagation
Lobularia, or Sweet Alyssum, is best propagated via seed. To propagate your Lobularia plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Lobularia by Seed
Propagating Lobularia by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Lobularia plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-10 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Lobularia seed pods.
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Lobularia seeds are small and typically light brown to tan in color.
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Problems and Pests
Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as they are considered invasive in California and Hawai'i. Check with local authorities before planting.
Lobularia, or Sweet Alyssum, plants are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the home garden:
Lobularia, or Sweet Alyssum, plants are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the home garden:
- Downy Mildew
- Stem Rot
- Crown Rot
- Root Rot
- Aphids
Gallery
Lobularia growing amongst African Daisy in a border strip.
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Sweet Alyssum is a popular small-space groundcover plant for low-traffic areas.
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These flowers are great at filling in empty space in borders and beds.
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Sweet Alyssum is a popular container plant.
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The individual flowers on these plants are small, but they bloom in inflorescences of multiple blossoms.
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Bees are important pollinators of Lobularia plants.
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Here, Lobularia is used as a spiller in a window box.
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This colorful hanging basket features Sweet Alyssum, Calibrachoa, and Petunia.
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Lobularia comes in many different flower colors, including multicolored.
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Videos
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Why you should be growing Lobularia in your garden.
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A run-down of different varieties of Lobularia.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 419 - 420, Lobularia (Sweet Alyssum)
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