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Annual BiennialBedding

Alyssum 'Snow Crystals'

A compact, mound-forming perennial, often grown as a summer annual, reaching 15cm in height. In summer it bears a profusion of tiny, cross-shaped, scented white flowers in rounded clusters. A good plant for coastal gardens, rockeries or containers

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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)

Botanical details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Alyssum can be annuals or evergreen perennials or sub-shrubs, with simple leaves and short racemes of small, 4-petalled yellow or white flowers in early summer
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed under glass in early spring, or in situ in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Bedding
Garden edging

Pruning

Clip over after the first flush of blooms to promote 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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