Alyssum

The Alyssum flower, commonly known as Sweet Alyssum, is a delicate and fragrant plant often used as ground cover or in garden borders. It’s admired for its tiny flowers and pleasant scent. Here’s a detailed description:

• Blooms: Alyssum flowers are small and clustered, typically in shades of white, but they also come in pink, lavender, and purple varieties. The flowers are four-petaled and form dense clusters, giving the plant a soft, cloud-like appearance when in full bloom.
• Shape: Each flower is tiny and round, creating dense masses of blooms that blanket the plant. These blooms often form a low, mounding shape as the plant grows, making them ideal for borders or cascading over the edges of pots.
• Foliage: The foliage of Alyssum is fine and narrow, with grayish-green leaves that are often hidden by the dense flower clusters. The leaves are small, oval, and not particularly prominent compared to the showy blooms.
• Size: Alyssum is a low-growing plant, typically reaching heights of 10-30 cm (4-12 inches) and spreading outward, forming a lush, mounded ground cover. Its spreading nature can fill spaces between other plants.
• Blooming Season: Alyssum is known for its long bloom period, often flowering from early spring through late fall. In mild climates, it can bloom almost year-round.
• Growing Conditions: Alyssum thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It’s a drought-tolerant plant but will flower more profusely with regular watering. It’s often used in rock gardens, borders, and as filler between larger plants.

The Alyssum’s sweet fragrance, particularly in the white varieties, attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its dense, low-growing habit and ability to tolerate various conditions make it a popular choice for garden landscapes.