How to Grow Alyssum

Sporting small flowers that grow in abundance, alyssum are often used as borders to fill spaces in gardens. Alyssum are typically easy to grow from seed and require little maintenance, which makes them ideal for beginners. Alyssum flowers come in an assortment of colors, including yellow, white and lavender, and a few different varieties, such as Carpet of Snow and Royal Carpet. Alyssum seeds can be planted outdoors once the threat of frost is gone, or indoors a few weeks beforehand. If you are looking to grow delicate flowers that can create a large impact on your landscape, alyssum may be your best bet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Potting soil
• Flat tray
• Pot
• Fertilizer

1. Pour potting soil into a flat tray or pot with drainage holes in the bottom, if you are growing the seeds inside. Place one seed every ½ inches. Plant the seeds directly into your soil if you are planting them outside. Cover the seeds with a light amount of soil. Doing so will help keep the seeds from floating away when watering, as they are very small.

2. Place the pots in a location that receives sun, such as a window sill. Alyssum grows best in full to partial sun.

3. Water the soil daily to prevent it from drying. Water the seeds using a gentle stream so as not to disturb the seeds. Germination should occur within a few days if the seeds are given the proper care and conditions.

4. Place the pots outdoors or remove the seedlings from their containers and place them in your garden when the threat of frost is gone. To transplant the seedlings, carefully remove them from their containers with a spoon or dull knife and dig a hole in the garden that is about twice the size of the alyssum’s roots. Place the delicate plant in the hole and cover its roots with soil. Keep your alyssum about 8 to 10 inches away from other plants.

5. Place fertilizer on the alyssum once a month. Purchase fertilizer that is made for alyssum or a general fertilizer that is good to use on most annuals.

Tips & Warnings

• Alyssum usually self-sow, meaning they will drop their seeds in the ground and come back again next year.

• Alyssum plants do best when planted in dry to average soil.