(Lobularia maritima ‘Carpet of Snow’)

SKU:
$1.50
1.5 3 $1.00 - $2.00
$1.00
Unavailable
per item

Carpet of Snow Sweet Alyssum is a cool-weather, mat-forming annual flower 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 grows to a height of 6” and features spreading mounds of well-branched stems full of tiny, white, 4-petaled flowers with yellow centers! This plant can be grown in a container or hanging basket, attracts bees and butterflies, tolerates drought, is edible, and even has medicinal properties!​


  • General Information
  • Starting Seeds
  • Crop Care
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Companion Planting
<
>
Family: Brassicaceae 

Genus: Lobularia

Species: maritima

Variety: Carpet of Snow Sweet Alyssum

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: 6​”
 
Spacing: 6”

Sow Depth: On soil surface
 
USDA Zone: 1-12

Produces: spreading mounds of well-branched stems full of tiny, white, 4 petaled flowers that have yellow centers!

Garden Uses: Mass in border fronts or rock gardens. Underplanting. Edging and bedding. Mixed containers.
​Direct sow in spring, after the soil warms. Press the seed into the surface of the soil, since it needs light to germinate. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination. The seed can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date of spring. Keep the soil lightly moist, and transplant the seedlings as soon as there is no chance of frost.
​Keep the plants watered, since they do not appreciate dry soil. To encourage rebloom, cut the plant back by one third. In the heat of summer, blooming will decrease. This plant makes an excellent ground cover or container plant, and attracts butterflies and bees. It may reseed in good growing conditions.
​These blossoms do not perform well as cut flowers, and are best enjoyed outdoors.
​After the flowers fade, the plant will produce seed pods. Watch the pods carefully, since they eventually split and release their seeds. Harvest the seeds as soon as they ripen to their mature light brown color. The entire plant can also be removed and spread out to dry, and the seeds removed from the pods. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
The young leaves, stems and flowers of Sweet Alyssum are sometimes used to flavor or decorate many dishes. For starters, it can be added into something easy such as a salad, folded in an omelet, or added to soups. Sweet Alyssum flowers candy very well or you can free them in water and make jazzy ice cubes! Finally you can dress up any dish or snack tray by adding Sweet Alyssum as a garnish. 
​Sweet Alyssum is used for many medicinal purposes. It is used to treat common cold, abdominal pain, and coughs. It also is used as in the treatment of rabies. Mostly, it is used in managing disorders associated with retention of fluids such as edema and ascites because it helps eliminate excess water from the body.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion Planting

Sweet Alyssum is a great companion plant for Petunia, Dianthus, Dichondra, Geraniums, Pansies, Strawflower, Persian Shield, Dusty Miller, Osteospermum, Calibrachoa, Black-Eyed Susan's, Lavender, and Gaillardia,

Problems

​No serious insect or disease problems. Damping off is an occasional problem with seedlings.

Suggested Varieties

(Rudbeckia hirta 'Black-Eyed Susan')

Black-Eyed Susan is a native tender perennial flower commonly found growing in fields, woods, prairies, and along roadsides throughout the eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features 3-7” hairy lance-shaped leaves, 3” daisy-like flowers with orange to yellow petals, and a brown dome center. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought and light frost, is resistant to deer, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
Shop

(Rudbeckia Hirta ‘Gloriosa Daisy’)

Gloriosa Daisy is a native tender perennial flower commonly found growing in fields, woods, prairies, and along roadsides throughout the eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 1-2' and features 3-7” hairy lance-shaped leaves and 5-9” daisy-like flowers with orange to yellow petals with a red ring around a brown dome center. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought and light frost, is resistant to deer, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower! 
Shop

(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! 
Shop

(Viola x wittrockiana ‘Clear Crystals Black’)

Clear Crystals Black Pansy is a cool-weather, short-lived perennial hybrid flower native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach a 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!
Shop

(Viola × wittrockiana ‘Giant Flame’)

Only a few left!

Giant Flame Pansy is a cool weather short-lived perennial flower native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features 1 1/2” dark green oval-shaped leaves and 3” deep red flowers with black splotches at their base. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, and self-sows!
Shop

(Viola tricolor ‘Johnny Jump Up’)

Johnny Jump Up Pansy is a cool-weather, short-lived perennial flower native to Europe. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features light green/purplish stems, lance-shaped leaves, and tricolor blooms in purple, yellow, and white with deep purple veins. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees and butterflies, is edible and medicinal, tolerates drought and frost, and self-sows!
Shop

(Petunia integrifolia ‘Shanin' Wild’)

Shanin Wild Petunia is a sprawling tender perennial flower native to South America but grows in the Midwest and northeastern United States as an annual. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 12” and features erect hairy stems, oval leaves, and 2” trumpet-shaped violet flowers. This versatile plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets and has the added benefits of attracting butterflies and hummingbirds while repelling aphids, bean beetles, leaf hoppers, and tomato hornworms. It also self-sows and makes for a lovely cut flower.
Shop

(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!
Shop