Snow Cloth Annual Alyssum Flowers Seeds - West Coast Seeds

PRODUCT DETAILS

Low growing annual mounds of white flowers give off a rich honey perfume. Snow Cloth is great as living mulch and attractor of beneficial insects in the veggie garden. Ideal for edging, baskets, or pots. Shear plants after first flowering for a second bloom, as late as early October. Sow Snow Cloth Alyssum seeds in groups of 8 to 10 seeds for stronger effect. Do not cover. Plants grow to 15cm (6") tall, but they tend to spread, so keep compact by growing in full sun.

Alyssum makes an excellent cover for weed suppression and for attracting beneficial insects. Tiny predatory wasp species are attracted by the small flowers, and will feed on caterpillars, aphids, and other pests. Sow in all unused areas or between rows.

Hardy Annual (HA)

• Hardy annual
• Low growing mounds of white flowers
• Flowers give off rich honey perfume
• Great as a living mulch
• Plants grow to 15cm (6") tall

All About Snow Cloth

Latin:

Lobularia maritima
Family: Brassicaceae

Difficulty:

Easy

Season & Zone

Exposure: Full sun or partial shade.

Timing

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Or, direct sow while some danger of light frost still exists. It’s very easy, either way.

Starting

Sow seeds on the surface of the soil. If starting indoors, use a sterilized seed starting mix and maintain a soil temperature of 12-21°F (55-70°F) under bright lights. The seeds require light to germinate, so do not cover them. They should sprout in 5-14 days.

Growing

Transplant 20-30cm (8-12″) apart once all risk of frost has passed. Watch for slug damage in the early spring. Alyssum prefers freely draining, loamy soil with a pH in the 6.0-7.0 range, but it’s adaptable. It is tolerant of dry soil and hot weather, and can be used for xeriscaping. If watering is abundant, Alyssum responds by growing rapidly. If growth slows in mid-summer due to heat, shear plants back by half to encourage compact growth and a second bloom. This annual may self sow.

Companion Planting

Alyssum is very attractive to pollinators and other beneficial insects, and useful as a mulch to keep weeds down between rows.