Alyssum (Alyssum) - a genus of plants belonging to the cruciferous family. It includes more than 100 species, among which there are both perennial and annual. It occurs naturally in southern Europe and southern Siberia. For flower lovers, these plants are better known as the alyssum.
Alyssum perennial, depending on the species, can grow in height from 15 to 60 cm. The root system of plants is fibrous, compact. Shoots are semi-lignified, highly branching. Its leaves are small, oval-elongated, with a slight pubescence, giving them a silver tint. Numerous flowers with a pleasant aroma, mostly yellow, are collected in carpal inflorescences. The fruit is a pod containing small flat seeds that maintain germination for about 3 years.
The beginning and duration of flowering, color of flowers and the height of a plant such as perennial alissum, depend on the species:
- Alissum mountain forms a creeping bush, not exceeding a height of 20 cm. It blooms with light yellow flowers in May.
- The Pyrenees alissum, whose white color of flowers overlaps the leaf green, blooms in summer. Plant height up to 25 cm.
- Alyssum marine blooms from early summer until the first frosts. Its flowers are lilac or white. It is grown on the territory of Russia as an airman, since he cannot survive the winter even with good shelter. It forms neat rosettes, reaches a height of 40 cm. Its second name is marine lobularia.
It can be attributed to unpretentious plants alissum. Planting and care (the photos in this article demonstrate sprouts and abundantly flowering bushes) in a sunny area will allow the plant to reveal its full potential. The soil is desirable light, nutritious, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Stagnation of water is unacceptable, since the roots are prone to rapid decay. The plant needs regular moderate watering, lack of moisture leads to rapid flowering. Fertilizing with complex fertilizers is enough two a year.
After the first flowering, plants should be pruned by about 7 cm. By this action, repeated flowering is achieved. Before winter, flower stalks should not be removed; in this form, plants will better tolerate frosts. And in the spring, when putting the flower beds (rock garden, etc.) in order, they need to be cut and removed dead leaves.
Alyssum perennial propagates by dividing the bush, cutting off overgrown parts without full digging, seeds and cuttings. Transplanting and dividing is best done in early spring, cuttings - in early summer. Seeds can be sown on seedlings in March or in May directly into the ground. They cannot be deeply buried, as they are photosensitive. Transplanting seedlings to a flower bed, you need to leave between the plants about 35 cm, because they grow well. Beetroots bloom 1.5 months after seed germination.
Alyssum for many years is susceptible to many diseases: jaundice of asters, brown rot of roots, wilting, real and downy mildew. Of the pests, it can be affected by cabbage moth, cruciferous fleas, caterpillars (turnip and cabbage whitewash). If problems arise, the plant should be treated with appropriate preparations.
Despite possible problems, perennial alissum is a very interesting plant. It is great for rockeries, rock gardens, borders and mixborders, tailored to the height and timing of flowering.