Sweet Alyssum
Annuals that re-seed and return year after year can be as valuable as perennials to your garden. They offer a more relaxed style of gardening and save us money because we don't have to buy new seeds or plants every year.
One of my favorites is Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime). It is a low-growing, cool season annual that is covered with fragrant white flowers from fall through early summer.
Sweet alyssum is easy to grow in full sun to partial shade, in average to moist soil. It re-seeds prolifically in open, sunny areas. The self-sown plants can be transplanted easily while small.
These sweet smelling plants bloom constantly for me all year in the Tyler climate. Seeds sown directly in the garden germinate easily and quickly develop into masses of flowers. The plants need little care and are not bothered by any disease or insects. You may want to clip the plants back after they set seed or pull up any dead plants to keep the area tidy. Shake the seed heads over any area where you want to start Sweet Alyssum.
Other re-seeding annuals I've tried that thrive in our climate are old-fashioned Petunias, French Hollyhock (zebrina), Hyacinth Bean, Cosmos, Periwinkle, Impatiens, Cleome and Garden Balsam.
Kathy Moore, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
This web site is part of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Smith County horticulture program, and is hosted on Aggie-Horticulture. Created and maintained by Keith Hansen, Smith County Extension Horticulturist.
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