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Annual BiennialBedding

Lobularia maritima Easter Bonnet Series
  • RHS AGM
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

sweet alyssum Easter Bonnet Series

A very compact and early-flowering cultivar group producing masses of tiny, 4-petalled flowers in tight clusters. The fragrant flowers may be white, pink or reddish-purple and are attractive to pollinating insects

Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink White Purple Green
Summer Pink White Purple Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
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 soil in full sun. Good for gaps between paving or containers

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown under glass in early spring, or where plants are to flower in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • hanging basket
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Bedding
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning

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

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and flea beetles

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, club root and white blister

Get involved

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