# Sweet Alyssum (*Lobularia maritima*) Sweet Alyssum is a delicate flower with clusters of tiny, fragrant blooms. It attracts butterflies and bees with its sweet scent and bright colors. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Gardens, Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Alyssum, Sweet Alison ![Sweet Alyssum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Caps_blancs_pel_Bellveret%252C_X%C3%A0tiva.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caps_blancs_pel_Bellveret%252C_X%C3%A0tiva.jpg) ## Appearance The Sweet Alyssum has a sprawling growth habit, creating dense carpets of tiny, four-petaled flowers. These delicate blossoms typically appear in shades of pure white, soft pinks, lavender, and royal purple, often forming a cloud-like display. Its compact clusters make it visually distinct as a delicate groundcover. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Brassicales - **Family:** Brassicaceae - **Genus:** Lobularia ## Interesting facts - Gardeners sometimes call it "Carpet of Snow" because of its dense, white flower clusters! - Its Greek name "Alyssum" means "without madness," as it was once believed to cure rabies! - Its tiny seeds can sprout and grow in surprisingly small cracks, brightening up walls or paths! - Some varieties can actually change color from white to pink or purple as their tiny flowers mature! ## Special abilities - **Fragrant Welcome:** Sweet Alyssum releases a strong, sweet fragrance, acting as a beacon to guide insects to its tiny flowers for pollination. - **Spreading Carpet:** This plant grows low and wide, forming a dense 'living carpet' that helps keep moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds. - **Endless Flowers:** Sweet Alyssum can produce tiny blossoms almost continuously for months, ensuring it creates many seeds for new plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring, Summer, Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Marmalade Hoverfly (*Episyrphus balteatus*) — feeds on nectar, helping spread pollen between blossoms. - **Depends on:** Convergent Lady Beetle (*Hippodamia convergens*) — uses the plant's nectar and shelter while hunting garden pests. ## Traits - [Annual](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/annual): Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, within a single growing season. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at these flowers, but avoid picking them to let them grow and attract more insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sweet Alyssum? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Sweet Alyssum? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Sweet Alyssum spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Sweet Alyssum? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Sweet Alyssum bloom? Spring, Summer, Fall ### Is Sweet Alyssum edible? Yes ### Is Sweet Alyssum toxic? None ### What is Sweet Alyssum's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Mystic River Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mystic-river-reservation) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Athens Lunatic Asylum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/athens-lunatic-asylum) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Bush Street–Cottage Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bush-street-cottage-row-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leather-and-lgbtq-cultural-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Russian Hill-Paris Block Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-hill-paris-block-architectural-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Russian Hill-Vallejo Street Crest Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-hill-vallejo-street-crest-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see Sweet Alyssum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sweet-alyssum) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sweet Alyssum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweet-alyssum)