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Sweet Alyssum

Lobularia maritima

Flower

Sweet alyssum is a low-growing, honey-scented annual that carpets the ground between taller plants. It is extraordinarily effective at attracting hoverflies and parasitic wasps whose larvae consume aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests.

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Water Needs

Low

Soil

Well-draining loam; pH 6.0–7.0

Spacing

6–8 inches

Days to Maturity

45–60 days from sowing to flower

Growing Zones

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Thrives in USDA Zones 5–10

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Keep Away From

No known antagonists

When to Plant

  • Direct Sow

    2–4 weeks before last frost; self-seeds freely

  • Harvest

    Shear back by half in midsummer to trigger a fresh flush of flowers

Organic Growing Tips

  • Scatter seed liberally along the edges of vegetable beds as a living mulch that attracts hoverflies.

  • Shear plants back by half in midsummer when flowering slows — they will rebound with fresh growth.

  • Self-seeds prolifically and will naturalise as a perennial presence in mild climates.

  • Interplant with brassicas specifically to attract hoverflies, whose larvae are voracious aphid predators.

Common Pests

  • Aphids
  • Slugs

All pest management in Garden uses safe, organic, non-toxic methods only. No synthetic pesticides, ever.