# Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/sweet-alyssum · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/sweet-alyssum)

Sweet alyssum · أليسم  
flower · exotic · family Brassicaceae · grows 0.1–0.3 m tall, 0.2–0.5 m wide · fast growth  
sun to part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 3 · shade 3 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Sep–Feb  
Uses: bedding, container, groundcover, fragrance  
Garden styles: manicured, luxury

## Also known as

- **English:** Alyssum, Sweet alison, Sea alyssum, Snow in summer
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Alyssum maritimum*
- **Arabic (العربية):** أليسم, خرم الإبرة البحري (kharm al-ibra al-bahri)
- **Persian (فارسی):** گل عسل (gol-e asal)

A low, honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers that Dubai Municipality plants every September: plant September to February, flowers November to April, and expect it to fade as the heat arrives.

## About

Meet sweet alyssum, the flower you smell before you see. Its tiny white, pink or purple blooms open in clusters, and UF/IFAS says the carpet of flowers smells like honey. Bees and butterflies find it at once, and RHS lists it as a recommended plant for pollinators.

It does the quiet jobs in a Dubai bed: it spills over the edge of a pot, fills the gap between taller flowers and covers bare soil, so that a planting looks finished rather than dotted. Dubai Municipality plants it in September alongside petunia, and its Arabic name there is simply «أليسم».

It is also a lesson in reading the label. UF/IFAS says the old seed-grown types are poor performers compared with the newer cutting-grown ones, some of which are named for their heat tolerance, and in Dubai that difference may decide whether the carpet lasts to April or collapses in March.

Lobularia maritima is a low annual (or short-lived perennial) in the cabbage family, and UF/IFAS describes it as a mounding groundcover about 12 inches (30 cm) tall and wide whose clusters of white, pink or purple flowers bloom continuously from winter through spring. RHS gives it as under 10 cm tall with a spread of up to 50 cm. NC State says white-flowered types are the most fragrant, with a scent of new-mown hay or honey.

Dubai Municipality names alyssum in its seasonal flower lists (Emirates 24|7 in 2016, Al Bayan in 2020), and Gulf News reported it planted in September alongside petunia. Acacia's Dubai calendar lists sweet alyssum for October and January planting. UF/IFAS says to plant from October until late spring in Florida. NC State adds that the bloom declines in hot summers, so in Dubai, where April's mean maximum is 33.7 °C and May's 38.2 °C, it is a September-to-April plant.

It grows in full sun and takes some shade (UF/IFAS), and NC State says it appreciates afternoon shade and tolerates dry soil. The one thing it insists on is drainage: NC State says very good drainage is a must, and plants decline in poorly drained soil and can suffer stem and crown rots. Dubai's sandy soil gives it that, so the work is to feed it, since UF/IFAS says regular water and fertiliser give the most flowers, and to choose a heat-tolerant, cutting-grown type where you can.

## Through the year

Sweet alyssum's Dubai season starts early. Dubai Municipality plants it in September, and Acacia's calendar lists October and January for home gardens, so the carpet can be laid out from early autumn through February. It flowers from about November and is at its best from December to March, when mean highs are 24–29 °C. NC State says to cut it back when the bloom slows, to keep it flowering. April's mean maximum of 33.7 °C, then May's 38.2 °C, brings it to an end except for the heat-tolerant cultivars, and beds are cleared for summer bedding such as [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md).

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sep–Feb | Plant: Cool-season planting window | Dubai Municipality plants it in September (Gulf News); Acacia lists October and January; UF/IFAS says October until late spring in Florida. |
| Nov–Apr | Flowers: Flowers through winter and spring | UF/IFAS: bloom is continuous from winter through spring. NC State: it declines in hot summers. |
| Feb–Apr | Prune: Shear back when bloom slows | NC State: cut plants back when the blooms decline, to keep them flowering. |
| Dec–Feb | Pest watch: Rots and mildew in damp spells | NC State lists downy mildew and stem and crown rots; RHS adds slugs and flea beetles. Good drainage is the defence. |
| May–Jun | Heat stress: Declines as the heat arrives | Heat-tolerant cutting-grown cultivars such as Easy Breezy and Snow Princess may last longer (UF/IFAS, NC State). |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown outdoors through summer; it is a cool-season annual in Dubai.
- **Watering in winter:** Water regularly but let the surface dry between waterings. NC State says very good drainage is a must and that it tolerates drought and dry soil.
- **While establishing:** Keep evenly moist for the first two weeks, then water regularly (UF/IFAS).
- **Soil:** Very free-draining soil in full sun to partial shade (NC State). Dubai's sand drains freely, and compost mixed in keeps it fed.
- **Feeding:** UF/IFAS says regular water and fertiliser give maximum flowering. A light balanced feed every three to four weeks suits sandy soil.
- **Pruning:** Cut plants back when the blooms decline, to keep them flowering (NC State, RHS).
- **Planting:** Plant nursery plants from September to February in full sun, spacing them about 20–30 cm apart. Choose a vegetatively propagated, heat-tolerant type where offered (UF/IFAS).
- **Pests and problems:** Downy mildew; Stem and crown rot in poor drainage; Slugs; Flea beetles
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists alyssum (Alyssum spp.) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and NC State's Plant Toolbox tags Lobularia maritima itself as non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses. The ASPCA entry names the genus Alyssum rather than Lobularia, so the NC State tag is the one that names sweet alyssum. Eating any plant can cause mild stomach upset.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Honey-scented flowers that attract bees and butterflies
- One of Dubai Municipality's September bedding flowers, easy to find
- Fills gaps, edges beds and spills from pots as a flowering groundcover
- Tolerates dry soil and some shade (NC State, UF/IFAS)
- Listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses (NC State, ASPCA)

**Cons**
- Blooms decline in hot weather, so it is cleared by April or May
- Old seed-grown types perform poorly next to cutting-grown ones (UF/IFAS)
- Rots in poorly drained soil (NC State)
- Needs regular feeding for the best flowering

## Common mistakes

- Planting in heavy or wet soil. NC State says very good drainage is a must; stem and crown rots follow poor drainage.
- Buying old seed-grown types and expecting heat tolerance. UF/IFAS says they perform poorly compared with the newer cutting-grown types.
- Skipping the feed. UF/IFAS says regular water and fertiliser are what give maximum flowering, and sand holds few nutrients.
- Not shearing it back. NC State advises cutting plants back when the blooms decline to keep them flowering.
- Expecting it to last all summer. Blooms decline in hot weather, and Dubai's April and May highs finish most plantings.

## Good to know

- Dubai Municipality uses the Arabic name «أليسم» for alyssum in its seasonal flower list (Al Bayan, 2020).
- UF/IFAS names 'Easy Breezy' as a heat-tolerant hybrid series in white, pink and purple, and notes that the white 'Snow Princess' also has good reports for heat.
- The name 'alyssum' alone is also used for the genus Alyssum, which is where sweet alyssum was formerly classified (Wikipedia). Garden-centre labels may use either.
- RHS lists sweet alyssum as a recommended plant for pollinators, and UF/IFAS says bees and butterflies are attracted to it.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Bed edging, Flowering groundcover, Container spiller, Gap filler

Plant sweet alyssum where its low, fragrant mat can be seen and smelled: along the front of a cool-season bed, spilling over the rim of a pot or filling the spaces between taller flowers. NC State suggests it for growing between walkway stones and as a filler between taller plants, and UF/IFAS describes it as a flowering groundcover that ties together different elements of a bed. Give it full sun, and light afternoon shade if you can, in free-draining soil.

- [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md): Gulf News reports the two planted together in September, and alyssum's low carpet softens petunia's taller mass.
- [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md): Snapdragon's upright spikes rise out of a carpet of alyssum, and both share Dubai's October to January planting dates.
- [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md): Dianthus's fringed flowers and alyssum's tiny clusters make a fine-textured front edge with the same cool-season calendar.

## FAQ

**When should I plant sweet alyssum in Dubai?**  
From September to February. Dubai Municipality plants it in September (Gulf News), Acacia's Dubai calendar lists October and January, and UF/IFAS says to plant from October until late spring.

**Will sweet alyssum survive the summer?**  
Usually not. NC State says the bloom declines in hot summers. Heat-tolerant cutting-grown types such as Easy Breezy may last longer (UF/IFAS), but in Dubai it is best treated as a September-to-April plant.

**Does sweet alyssum smell?**  
Yes. UF/IFAS says the flowers smell like honey, and NC State says white types are the most fragrant, with a scent of new-mown hay or honey.

**Why is my alyssum turning brown at the base?**  
Most likely poor drainage or overwatering, which NC State links to stem and crown rots. Let the surface dry between waterings.

**Is sweet alyssum safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists alyssum as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses and NC State tags Lobularia maritima as non-toxic for all three, though eating any plant can cause mild stomach upset.

## Related plants

[Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) · [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) · [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md) · [Pansy](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pansy.md)

## Photos

![Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) covered in small white flower clusters](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Sweet_alyssum_%28Lobularia_maritima%29_%286995044097%29.jpg)  
Photo: Franco Folini / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweet_alyssum_(Lobularia_maritima)_(6995044097).jpg))

![Purple sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) in flower in a December planting in Athens](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Sweet_alyssum_%28Lobularia_maritima%29_in_Athens_on_12-14-2023.jpg)  
Photo: George E. Koronaios / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweet_alyssum_(Lobularia_maritima)_in_Athens_on_12-14-2023.jpg))

![A cluster of white sweet alyssum flowers with water droplets on green leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Sweet_alyssum_%28Lobularia_maritima%29_flowers_with_water_droplets%2C_Alameda_Afonso_Henriques%2C_Lisbon%2C_Portugal_%28approx._GPS_location%29_julesvernex2.jpg)  
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweet_alyssum_(Lobularia_maritima)_flowers_with_water_droplets,_Alameda_Afonso_Henriques,_Lisbon,_Portugal_(approx._GPS_location)_julesvernex2.jpg))

![A low mat of sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) flowering in a rock garden](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Lobularia_maritima_kz01.jpg)  
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lobularia_maritima_kz01.jpg))

## Sources

- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Sweet Alyssum](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/sweet-alyssum/)
- [RHS: Lobularia maritima](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/124133/lobularia-maritima/details)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Lobularia maritima](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lobularia-maritima/)
- [ASPCA: Alyssum (Alyssum spp.)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/alyssum)
- [Gulf News: Dubai set to bloom with over 37m flowers (alyssum planted in September)](https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/dubai-set-to-bloom-with-over-37m-flowers-1.1620206)
- [Emirates 24|7: Flowers Dubai plants in a year (Dubai Municipality's seasonal flower list, 2016)](https://www.emirates247.com/lifestyle/flowers-dubai-plants-in-a-year-2016-05-13-1.629918)
- [Al Bayan: Dubai Municipality's flower varieties and its three planting rotations (Arabic, 18 March 2020)](https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2020-03-18-1.3806546)
- [Acacia Garden Center: Dubai Garden Calendar](https://acaciagardencenter.com/blogs/blog/dubai-planting-calendar)
- [Gulf News: The flowers of the season (alyssum among Dubai's winter flowers, 2004)](https://gulfnews.com/uae/the-flowers-of-the-season-1.315624)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991–2020 normals, Dubai International Airport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv.](https://www.gbif.org/species/206833956)
- [Kew WCVP (via GBIF): Alyssum maritimum, a synonym of Lobularia maritima](https://www.gbif.org/species/206834101)
- [Wikipedia: Lobularia maritima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobularia_maritima)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: خرم الإبرة البحري](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A)
- [Persian Wikipedia: گل عسل](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%AF%D9%84_%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%84)