Does alyssum come back next year?
Sweet alyssum thrives in well-drained soil and can be planted in both full sun and partial shade, depending on the climate. Though commonly grown as an annual, sweet alyssum can reseed and may return each year in warmer climates. As long as the ground is free-draining and doesn’t remain damp, alyssum will grow in any reasonable garden soil. Full sun gives the best flowers although light shade still gives good results.Alyssum is not a plant that takes to dividing well. The best way to propagate it is to allow the plants to self-seed or save the seed so that the plant can be started indoors for the following spring.Alyssum is a fast-growing plant that responds well to regular shearing back and deadheading. Most gardeners grow Alyssum as an annual that will last for only one season, although this plant is a reliable perennial in USDA zones 9-11. These warmer zones can support Alyssum growth through the winter months.Annual-grown Alyssum does not require any winter protection. The plants will die back with the first frost of the fall. They can then be composted or thrown away. The cooler fall weather will spur the plants into another flush of vigorous growth in the zones where Alyssum is perennial.Sow alyssum from early spring to early summer, and in autumn where winters are mild. Alyssum grows fast and often stops blooming in hot weather.
Will alyssum reseed itself?
Alyssum is relatively easy to grow from seed, and once established, it can reseed itself from year to year. Alyssum is frequently used as a filler in containers or to cascade down the planters edge. This prostrate annual grows well in full sun in cool climates but may do better in partial shade in hot climates. It needs average, well-drained soil with medium moisture.The need for good air circulation makes sweet alyssum perfect for growing in hanging baskets and large, upright containers. It doesn’t love being crowded in a garden bed with other plants. Wind dries out plants growing in containers fairly quickly, so check your plants often to make sure they aren’t drying out.
Does alyssum flower more than once?
Although many varieties may stop flowering in heat, sweet alyssum plants bloom repeatedly. They will likely pick up again in the fall. Although sweet alyssum is considered an annual flower many varieties are such prolific self seeders that they come back every year just like a perennial flower. There is actually one variety of alyssum that is a true perennial and it provides a striking display of yellow flowers in april in most areas of the country.Large clusters of beautifully fragrant, white blooms that attract beneficial insects completely envelop this sweet alyssum all season. Since it doesn’t set seed and is very heat tolerant, you can count on seeing blooms from spring all the way until frost.Though commonly grown as an annual, sweet alyssum can reseed and may return each year in warmer climates. Sweet alyssum is valuable for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden and is considered deer resistant.
Does alyssum spread easily?
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing annual. It grows in a mounding form to about 12 inches tall and wide. It can be planted in your garden or used in a container, where its spreading habit spills nicely. Sweet Alyssum grows between 6 to 8 inches tall and a four-inch nursery plant will spread to cover 12 inches of your pot. Plant it on the edge of the container and not only will it spread this far but will also cascade over the end of your planter to distances of 18”!