Sweet Alice

More about Sweet Alice

Lobularia maritima
syn. Alyssum
Sweet Alice is a cottage garden favourite that is hardy and easy to grow from seed. It is a low-growing, long flowering annual. The fragrant tiny clusters of flowers are highly attractive to a range of beneficial insects including bees, lady beetles, predatory bugs, and braconid wasps. In trials of insectary plants in California, sweet alyssum was found to be the best at attracting 'good bugs'. This makes it ideal to use in the vege garden along pathways or in rows between crops. It is frost-resistant but drought-tender. Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. Sow early Spring and again in Autumn in temperate areas. Sow all year in subtropical areas; avoid very hot periods or frost. In tropical areas sow during the dry season. The best germination soil temperature is 20°C. Germination will take 7 - 14 days. Sow the seed 2 - 5 mm deep, cover it with fine sand. Seeds can be sown into seedling trays for later transplanting or direct into a garden bed. Sow the seed thinly, the germination rate is high; it also self-sows in good conditions. Space the plants 10 cm apart. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils and will grow from full sun to light shade. Plants do better with consistent moisture. Protect seedlings from snails and slugs.