Lobularia maritima 'Easter Bonnet Lavender'

RHS Plant Profile

sweet alyssum 'Easter Bonnet Lavender'

RHS

Herbaceous Perennial Annual Biennial

A very compact, low-growing annual or short-lived perennial, 8-10cm high, with narrow, slightly hairy, grey-green leaves, and heads of scented, lavender-coloured flowers in spring and summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Lobularia can be annuals or perennials, of low spreading habit, with simple leaves and short terminal racemes of 4-petalled, fragrant flowers in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil, in full sun; good for gaps between paving, garden edging, and containers

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown where it is to grow, in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Garden edging
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required, but clipping over after the first flowers may encourage further flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and flea beetles

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, club root, white blister, foot and root rot, Fusarium wilt, powdery mildews and Sclerotinia diseases