Friday, February 6, 2009

Blooming Friday

our sweet alyssum during the warm months last year

Another easy to grow plant is the sweet alyssum (Lobuluria maritima) or simply alyssum (the name of the genus it belonged to before it was reclassified to the genus Lobularia). It is an annual plant but the ones I’ve planted around two years ago are still around. Of course, during winter they turn brown and dry, but the following spring, leaves sprout and flowers bloom until the season turns frosty. Well, maybe they self-sow, giving me the impression that that they grow from the very same plants I’ve grown the year before. But in any case, their cultivation is not difficult. Once sown, they grow on their own without much intervention on the gardener's part. Well, of course watering them from time to time is still necessary. What is more interesting is that they grow better in partial shade and the seeds don’t cost much.


They might not grow high (they are usually used as a ground cover) but they can give flowers almost all-year round, except if the temperature becomes too cold. One can plant it even in the middle of summer to give flowers in autumn. But of course, it would be better to sow them in spring to make the most of its blooming season. And if the wilted blooms are cut, you will have abundant sweet-smelling flowers that provide a great contrast to its foliage (especially the type with white flowers). A light breeze can diffuse their honey and vanilla scent which makes them ideal as pathway plants, near your windows or gazebos, or any other part of your garden where you usually sit down and have tea while chatting with your friends.


I planted them along our front porch together with our roses. So whenever I open the door, I am greeted by their sweet fragrance, an inviting note to take a walk outside. And with their white color peeking through the leaves and stems of our roses, the flower patch looks like bouquets of red roses with baby’s breath (gypsophila) one usually finds in flower shops. Only this time it’s with sweet alyssum and they don’t come in cut flowers wrapped in a transparent (or sometimes colored) cellophane tied with a ribbon, but rather real plants that last for the duration of the warm season.


see my other blooming fridays
see other blooming friday participants

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice pictures of nice flowers! Have a good weekend!

HelenJ said...

These are simply adorable. Thanks for sharing!
/Helen

Anonymous said...

What lovely little flowers! Your photos really are incredible...

lareine said...

to andré and helenj: thanks for dropping by and taking the time to leave a note or two:)... they're wonderful to have in a garden (well, at least for beginners like me:))...

Monika said...

i like when flowers smell like vanilla... they look small and compakt...
nice...
Have a nice weekend
Monika

joey said...

Thanks for visiting and pointing me your way, Lareine. You've posted some beautiful photos!

Gunilla said...

What lovely flowers. I like your fantastic photos /Thanks for sharing them.

Have a nice weekend
Gunilla

Katarina said...

Fabulous shots! I think it's great to have annuals in your garden - especially when they choose to stay! They must like you!
Enjoy your weekend!
Katarina

Lillebeth said...

Thanks Lareine, for dropping by my blog. Your beautiful friday flower reminds me of some other plant..but what. Anyhow they are just lovely.
See you around!

Lillebeth said...

Thanks, Lareine for dropping by my blog. Your beautiful Friday flower reminds me of some other plant...but which one? Anyhow, this one is lovely. See yoy around.

Ingela said...

Looked around and saw all youre nice pictures. Thanks for looking by at my place, se you again.

Haveaniceweekend!
Ingela

Eva Linnea said...

Hallo! Thanks for looking by at my blog. Lovely flowers, and the text also.
Best regards from Eva Linnea (Häxor & Änglar)

lareine said...

to everybody: thanks for the visit and taking the time to leave wonderful messages... hope spring will come soon so we can enjoy our gardens and flowers:)

Jaden Paige said...

You know so much about plants! There are pretty, and I love that they have that nice aroma too! Maybe I will plant some this year... Thanks for the info!

lareine said...

to jaiden: you're welcome! and thank you too for visiting and i'm glad you find this post useful... sweet alyssum is really easy to grow just be a bit patient during it's germination and growing period... it looks like weed at the start so you might think the seeds didn't grow...

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