(Lobularia maritima ‘Royal Carpet’)
Royal Carpet Sweet Alyssum is a cool weather mat-forming annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be commonly found growing on sandy beaches and dunes throughout the western, eastern, and southern United States. At maturity, this plant features spreading mounds of well-branched stems full of tiny, purple, 4 petaled flowers that smell like warm honey on a cold day! This plant can be grown in a container or hanging basket, attracts bees, butterflies, tolerates drought, it is edible and even has medicinal properties!
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General Information
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Seed Starting
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Crop Care
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Culinary
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Medicinal
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Companion Planting
Genus: Lobularia
Species: maritima
Variety: Royal Carpet Sweet Alyssum
Also Known As: Sweet Alyssum, Sweet Alice, Sweet Alison, Seaside Lobularia.
Awards: 1953 All-America Selections Winner
Native to: Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Egypt, France, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.
Introduced into: Alabama, Albania, Altay, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Austria, Azores, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, British Columbia, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Central European Rus, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, China North-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Florida, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Gulf of Guinea Is., Haiti, Hungary, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ireland, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Louisiana, Madeira, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Mississippi, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, Norfolk Is., North Carolina, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Queensland, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, South Australia, South Carolina, Sweden, Taiwan, Tasmania, Texas, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Uruguay, Utah, Vermont, Victoria, Washington, Western Australia, Xinjiang.
Grown as: Annual/Tender Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): April to June
Hardiness: Tender. Annual that dies off in the winter and reseeds for the following year.
Light: Plants prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade in warmer areas.
Water: Dry to medium.
Soil Moisture: Medium moisture, well-drained.
Suitability: Drought, Dry Soil.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hoverflies, and Predatory Wasps.
Containers?: Yes. This plant can be used in containers and hanging baskets.
Maintenance: Medium
Height: 4”
Spacing: 6”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 1-12
Produces: spreading mounds of well-branched stems full of tiny, purple, 4 petaled flowers that smell like warm honey on a cold day!
Garden Uses: Mass in border fronts or rock gardens. Underplanting. Edging and bedding. Mixed containers.
Companion Planting
Problems
Suggested Varieties
(Rudbeckia hirta 'Black-Eyed Susan')
(Lavandula angustifolia ‘Vera')
Vera Lavender is a perennial herb that is native to Europe but can commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-36” and features square shaped stems, 2 ½” silvery gray/green narrow leaves, and terminal spikes of fragrant lavender flowers. This plant grows in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, repels mice, tolerates deer, is rabbit safe, is used to flavor perfume and soap, tolerates drought and frost, is used to make cleansing agents, detergents, essential oils, insecticides, and potpourri, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Viola x wittrockiana ‘Clear Crystals Black’)
Only a few left!
Clear Crystals Black Pansy is a cool weather short-lived perennial hybrid flower that is native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach the height of 12” and features 1 1/2” dark green oval-shaped leaves and 2-4” jet black flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, and self sows!
(Viola tricolor ‘Johnny Jump Up’)
Johnny Jump Up Pansy is a cool weather short-lived perennial flower that is native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach the height of 12” and features light green/purplish stems, lance-shaped leaves, and tricolor blooms in purple, yellow and white that have deep purple veins. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees and butterflies, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought and frost, and self sows!
(Viola × wittrockiana ‘Giant Flame’)
Giant Flame Pansy is a cool weather short-lived perennial flower that is native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach the height of 12” and features 1 1/2” dark green oval=shaped leaves and 3” deep red flowers that have black splotches at their base. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, and self sows!
(Petunia integrifolia ‘Shanin' Wild’)
Shanin Wild Petunia is a sprawling tender perennial flower that is native to South America but can be found growing in the Midwest and northeastern United States as an annual. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12” and features erect hairy stems, oval leaves, and 2” trumpet-shaped violet flowers. This plant be grown in a container or hanging basket, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, repels aphids, bean beetles, leaf hoppers, and tomato hornworms, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Strawflower’)
Strawflower is a tender perennial flower that is native to Australia but can be commonly found growing in the northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features 5” lance-shaped grayish-green leaves and 1-3” daisy-like flowers that have a yellow center disks which are surrounded by orange, red, yellow, pink, or white bracts. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!