Alyssum Profile

Alyssum is a perennial herb of the cruciferous family and the genus Alyssum. Its base is lignified and can reach 40 cm in height. Its stem branches upward from the base and the leaves are striped or lanceolate, with narrower ends and entire. The inflorescence of the fragrant snow globe is corymbose, the peduncle is filamentous, the sepals of alyssum are oblong oval, and the inner ring is narrow oval or narrow oval. The petals of alyssum are lavender or white, oblong, blunt-rounded at the top, short siliques are oval, the petals are compressed and slightly expanded, and the ends of the stalks are upturned. The alyssum seeds hang on the roof of the ovary, oblong, light reddish-brown. Indoor cultivation of fragrant alyssums generally bloom in March-April, and if it is cultivated in an open field, it blooms from June to July.

Fragrant alyssums are distributed along the Mediterranean coast. China's Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Xinjiang and other provincial parks and flower gardens are cultivated.
Alyssum grows creeping and has a pleasant fragrance. It is also suitable for planting on the edge of rock garden walls, and can also be potted and used as ground cover.

Alyssum morphological characteristics

Alyssum is a perennial herb with a lignified base, but it is not lignified whether it is grown in the current year or every other year. It is 10-40 cm tall and has silver-gray hair. The stem branches upward from the base, often in dense clumps. The leaves are strip-shaped or lanceolate, 1.5-5 cm long and 1.5-5 mm wide, narrowing at both ends, whole.
The inflorescence of alyssum is corymbose, extremely elongated in fruit, and pedicel is filamentous, 2-6 mm long; sepals are about 1.5 mm long, the outer ring is wider than the inner ring, the outer ring is oblong-ovate, the inner ring is narrowly elliptic or narrow egg-shaped oblong. Alyssum's petals are lavender or white, oblong, about 3 mm long, bluntly rounded at the top, and suddenly narrowed to claws at the base.

Alyssum efficacy and role

Alyssum is a herbaceous plant with a lignified base, but it does not lignify whether it is grown in the current year or the next year. It creeps and grows with a pleasant fragrance. Alyssum is also suitable for planting on the edge of rock garden walls, and can also be potted and used as ground cover.

Alyssum growth habit and growing environment and distribution

Alyssum likes cold weather, avoids extreme heat, and is resistant to frost. Like a relatively drier air environment, the rainy days are too long, easy to be infected by germs. Alyssum is afraid of rain and keeps the leaves dry at night. The suitable air relative humidity is 40-60%.
Alyssum is widely distributed along the Mediterranean coast of China and is cultivated in parks and flower gardens in Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Xinjiang and other provinces and regions.

Alyssum cultivation

Alyssum can be propagated by seeds and cuttings, but it is generally propagated by seeds. In northern regions, it is sown in spring. Generally, it is sown in the greenhouse in March. The seeds of Alyssum germinate faster than ordinary flower seeds, and the seedlings emerge neatly. The suitable temperature for germination is 20°C. Seedlings emerge in about 5 days. When 3-4 true leaves of alyssum are planted in pots, they will bloom in June. When the summer is hot, the growth is poor, and alyssum blooms very little. At this time, you’d better cut off the blooming branches and strengthen the management of fertilizer and water, and it can bloom again in autumn.