Alyssum serpyllifolium

RHS Plant Profile
thyme-leaved alison

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Alyssum serpyllifolium?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Alpine Rockery
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A mat-forming evergreen perennial with small silver-grey leaves, growing to a height of 6cm. In spring, a profusion of small yellow flowers are borne

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
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
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
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny, well-drained situation; ideally suited to rock garden conditions, sink troughs, containers, and gravel gardens. See RHS advice profile on rock gardening for more details

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cutting or by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover
  • Banks and slopes

Pruning

Cut back lightly after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free