Sweet Alyssum is a mustard or Brassicaceae
Well, who knew? Or, remembered? Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is in the same plant family as the Brassicaceae that make it to our table at mealtime, including chard, kale, Brussels sprouts, etc. They are cold hardy in zone 9 and above which makes them an annual in most of the U.S. and indeed most of the Northern Hemisphere. Native to the Mediterranean, Turkey and Southern Europe, we usually plant seeds in pots in late early March to put out in April after last average frost. Alyssum murale is Yellow Tuft, native to Canada and cold parts of the U.S. Alyssum Carpet of Snow Propagate by seed in the garden or indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last frost. Do not cover the seeds - they need light to germinate. Germination temperature: 55 F to 75 F Days to emerge: 14 The name Lobularia means "small pod" for the miniature fruits or seed pods. Even more amusing is that Alyssum (190 species by the way) means "not madness" from when Alyssum was an herb taken t...