FoliageSweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a medium-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 5-9, that matures to about 0.3-0.8 ft × 0.5-1 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect purple and white blooms in spring and summer. It attracts butterflies, moths and pollinators, stands up well to drought and dry soil.
- USDA zones
- 5-9
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 0.3-0.8 ft × 0.5-1 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry
- Bloom color
- Purple, White
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, Beneficial insects, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Drought, Dry soil
- Native to
- Southern Europe
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Sweet Alyssum is hardy to about -20°F (estimated from USDA zone 5), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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