Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Family: Brassicaceae · Also called Carpet of Snow, Sweet Alison, Adyseton maritimum, Draba maritima, Koniga maritima
Powdery & Soft · Spring–Autumn bloomer
Sweet alyssum is proof that fragrance has nothing to do with size. This ground-hugging annual produces clouds of tiny, four-petaled flowers, each barely 3mm across, that collectively release a honey-sweet fragrance powerful enough to scent an entire garden path. It blooms almost continuously from spring through frost, requiring essentially nothing from the gardener.
worth beyond beauty, calm, sweetness
In the Victorian language of flowers, sweet alyssum means “Worth beyond beauty”. The genus name Lobularia comes from 'lobulus' (small pod), and 'maritima' refers to its coastal habitat. Sweet alyssum was a staple of cottage gardens and window boxes for centuries, valued for the honey-sweet fragrance that floats up from low-growing drifts. It self-seeds freely, returning year after year without replanting.
Did You Know?
Sweet alyssum is one of the best plants for attracting beneficial insects to the garden. The tiny flowers provide nectar to parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and lacewings that control aphids and other pests. Many organic farmers plant it between crop rows as a biological pest control strategy.
Coastal rocks, walls, and sandy ground around the Mediterranean
Sweet Alyssum is native to Mediterranean. It naturally grows in coastal rocks, walls, and sandy ground around the mediterranean.
Scent Profile
“A warm, honeyed sweetness that rises like a cloud from the tiny flowers, powdery and gentle, surprisingly powerful for such a small plant.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameLobularia maritima
- FamilyBrassicaceae
- Native ToMediterranean
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Autumn
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
The genus name Lobularia comes from 'lobulus' (small pod), and 'maritima' refers to its coastal habitat. Sweet alyssum was a staple of cottage gardens and window boxes for centuries, valued for the honey-sweet fragrance that floats up from low-growing drifts. It self-seeds freely, returning year after year without replanting.