Sweet alyssum, Sweet alison
Lobularia maritima

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It can re-grow from seed each year or keep growing for a few years. It is about 8-15 cm tall and 20-30 cm wide. It branches freely producing a bushy plant. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 1.5-5 cm long. They are entire and taper to the base and the tip. They are greyish and hairy. The flowers are small and clustered at the ends of stems. The flowers are fragrant. The flowers have 4 petals arranged in a cross shape. They can be pink, purple or white. The flowering shoot lengthens as the fruit develop. The pod is 2.5-3.5 mm wide. There is one seed per section.

There are 5 Lobularia species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in stony areas, waste grounds, yards from sea level to 2000 m altitude in China. It is frost hardy. It does well in sandy soil. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canary Islands, Chile, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves, young stems and flowers are used to flavour salads and other dishes. They are pungent. The flowers are also candied.

It is also cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, stems

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seedlings can be transplanted. The seeds are just very lightly covered with soil. Plants are spaced about 15 cm apart. Plants drop their seed and resow easily.

Its other names

Local names

Aliso, Bedding alyssum, Canastillo de plata, Panalito, Xiang xue qiu

Synonyms

Alyssum halimifolium Linnaeus; Alyssum maritimum (Linnaeus) Lamarck; Alyssum minimum Linnaeus; Clypeola maritima Linnaeus; Koniga maritima (Linnaeus) R. Brown;