Lobularia maritima Snow Crystals

The Lobularia maritima procumbens, also called Alyssum Snow Crystals or Sweet Alyssum, is a robust annual ground cover plant with beautiful flowers. It grows quickly, forming uniform snowy carpets with large, immaculate flowers that cover its compact vegetation perfectly. These fragrant and cushion-like mats are perfect for borders, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and flower pots. Despite its delicate appearance, this small plant is highly resilient and can withstand adverse weather conditions and drought.

Sweet Alyssum is an annual plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family, like mustard and rapeseed. It is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. This plant is widely cultivated in gardens and has given rise to many ornamental horticultural varieties. Alyssum 'Snow Crystals' is a herbaceous woody-based tuft that can grow up to 15 cm (5.9 in) tall and 25 cm (9.8 in) wide. It may look like a weed at first, but then it transforms into an imposing clump of branched stems. It is adorned with petite, glaucous green, alternate, simple, and entire leaves that are narrow (from lanceolate to linear) and quite hairy. It blooms from June to September, covering the plant with white flowers with a delicious honey fragrance.

Despite their versatility and ability to establish themselves easily in the sun and well-drained soils, sweet alyssums are often overlooked in garden designs. These plants thrive in well-drained soil and sunshine, making them ideal for covering the tops of walls alongside aubrietas or Alyssum 'Basket of Gold,' filling spaces in rockeries at the base of drought-tolerant shrubs like lavender, rock roses, shrubby salvias, or rosemary. Planted along pathways, sweet alyssums add a charming touch to the garden. Lobularia 'Crystal Snow' can be grown in pockets between wall stones and form immaculate cascades that pair well with garden irises or wall bellflower Campanula portenschlagiana for a stunning vertical display. Sweet alyssums work wonderfully in pots and flower containers and combine well with surfinias, calibrachoas, or even ivy geraniums.

Note: Our plug plants are intended for experienced gardeners. Upon receipt, transplant and store them in a sheltered area such as a veranda, greenhouse or a cold frame with a temperature above 14°C for a few weeks before planting them outdoors. Wait until the risk of frost has passed before planting them outside.