SWEET ‘CARPET OF SNOW’ maritima ‘Carpet of Snow’

Characteristics

 Type: Annual  Sun: Full sun to part shade  Zone: 5 to 9  Water: Dry to medium  Height:3-9”  Maintenance: Medium  Spread:6-12”  : Showy, Fragrant  Bloom Time: April to June  Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil  Bloom Description: White  Attracts: Bees, Butterflies Culture

Annual. Easily grown from seed in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best with some part afternoon shade. Tolerates dryish soils. Sow seed directly in the ground several weeks before the last frost date. For earlier bloom, start seed indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost date. Nurseries sell starter in cell/six packs. Set seedlings or purchased plants out just before last frost date. Shear plantings after first bloom to encourage a second flush of bloom. Blooms spring to frost in cool summer climates. Flowering and plants usually decline significantly in the dog days of a typical southern summer at which point they should be cut back by one half. Plants usually revive as cooler fall temperatures arrive. Seed may also be sown in August for fall bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Lobularia maritima, commonly called sweet alyssum, is one of the easiest annuals to grow. It is a mat- forming that produces spreading mounds of well-branched stems clad with linear, lance-shaped, gray- green (to 1” long). Plants typically grow 3-9” tall to 12” wide. Dense clusters of sweetly fragrant, tiny, white 4-petaled cover the foliage mounds from spring to early summer. Flowering is often so profuse as to totally hide the foliage. expand the flower color choice to include shades of pink, rose, lavender, purple and apricot. Synonymous with Alyssum maritimum..

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Damping off is an occasional problem with seedlings.

Uses

Mass in border fronts or rock gardens. Underplanting. Edging and bedding. Mixed containers.

Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder