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Mountain Alyssum Wikimedia Commons
Brassicaceae

Mountain Alyssum

Alyssum montanum

Calm after storm.

Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Alyssum
Native to
Central Europe, Southern Europe
Bloom season
Spring
Type
perennial
Height
0.3-0.5 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy, rocky soil
Water
low
Hardiness
3-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The name 'Alyssum' comes from the Greek word meaning 'without madness,' as the plant was thought to cure rabies.
  • Mountain Alyssum forms dense silvery-green mats covered in bright yellow flowers each spring.
  • The plant's leaves are covered in tiny star-shaped hairs visible only under magnification.
  • It is one of the most drought-tolerant alpine plants and can survive weeks without rainfall.
  • Mountain Alyssum attracts beneficial hoverflies that help control garden pest populations.

Color meanings

0

tranquility

1

serenity

Uses

  • rock gardens
  • ground cover
  • dry walls
  • xeriscaping