Alyssum - Royal Carpet

OP Native to Southern and central Europe, Northern Africa and Southwestern and Central Asia, these beauties have been cultivated since the 1500’s. Also known as Sweet Alyssum, Sweet Alison or Sweet Alice, a nod to the flowers incredible scent. In Latin “alysson,” comes from the Greek “alusson” where the “a” means “without” and “lussa” means “rabies.” In fact, traditionally it was used as a rabies treatment. Other historical medicinal uses include reducing edema, treating scurvy, pain relief, and treating bleeding gums. Royal Carpet is stunning with short racemes of small, multi-toned flowers from violet, purple to white. As its name suggests, a low growing groundcover habit at 10-15cm high this flower is perfect for boarders, containers, rock gardens, and cracks and crevices around your garden. Would you guess this flower is in the Brassicaceae family, so it is edible as well as ornamental! The seed pods are the only giveaway, as they have a classic brassica formation. Due to their lovely floral scent and vibrant hues this is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden, hoverflies, ladybirds, bees, and butterflies to name a few. A semi hardy annual, that self-sows readily, they are easy to grow being, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, soil tolerant and will continue to bloom with or without deadheading. They prefer full sun for optimal blooms.   

Scatter sow seeds after last frost in a well-prepared garden bed. We prefer to sow seeds in a tray in mid spring through to late summer prick out to 4cm spacing when true leaves appear. Transplant into well prepared fertile bed at 25-30cm spacing. 

40 seeds.