Plant Details

Lobularia maritima - (L.)Desv.

Sweet Alyssum

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Lobularia maritima - (L.)Desv..

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Sweet Alyssum
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Alyssum
French
  • Corbeille d'argent
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Lobularia maritima - (L.)Desv.
Accepted name (Kew): Lobularia maritima View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lobularia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet Alyssum

Plant characteristics

Layer: Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Spread: 0.30 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
-

Description

The young leaves, stems, and flowers are sometimes used as a seasoning in salads and other dishes where spiciness is desired.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., name ID 2338457, row 47831
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 47814; name ID 2338454; Lobularia Desv.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.