I have a good bit of alyssum in our yard. Being in SoCal it gets hot in summers. I understand that heat will squelch blossoming, but will it kill off the plants entirely? I don't mind a season with little to few blooms, but don't want to waste time on something that must be replaced. thx

http://www.greenhousegrower.co...

This site trumpets a new variety that IS heat-tolerant, and they mention Dallas Texas and Miami Florida.

"Where old-fashioned seed-type alyssum do well only in Mediterranean climates, quickly dying in the summer in all other parts of the country, these new hybrids thrive in the heat."

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http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

On the other hand, this site thinks ALL sweet alyssum are unusually heat-hardy ... but maybe "a wide range of regions" doesn't include Texas, Florida and southern California.

"Few annual plants can match the heat and drought hardiness of sweet alyssum. The flowering plant has naturalized in the United States and thrives in a wide range of regions."

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Maybe it's a question for the Florida or Texas forums?

I see 6 members from CA, TX or FL "Have" Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), ignoring named cultivars and other species in the genus Alyssum. Also Zencat from West Valley City, Utah.

http://garden.org/lists/plant/... < - - - list of ATP members who "HAVE" sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

excellent info, reading reading reading

I have read that the Snow Crystals and Clear Crystals varieties are supposed to be more heat tolerant. And they are also more compact, with larger flowers. I grow them as annuals here in the frozen north and love them both.

There are several named " Lobularia maritima ",..some more compact than others,.. all have a very nice sweet scent which wafts about the garden,..most are described as being approx 6inches in height,..this includes the Violet Colored type named " Violet Queen",..however a packet of seeds i received named Lobularia maritima 'Sweet Alyssum' grows in my garden from June to October,..reaches a height of over two foot,..where the means to climb are provided,.. survives in temperatures up to 98F and down to heavy frost and snow,..granted it dies back somewhat in heavy frost though never in the high temperatures,..just water the base and up it boosts,..August Temperature.



I have to admit this plant is the one that gets the least amount of attention in my garden,..given more help it would produce better blooms,..i would recommend it as a worthwhile addition to any garden

Here are some images from June to October,..and in that order below.

Those are gorgeous! I didn't realize that Ireland had such hot summers.

Hi Ric,..most people outside Ireland have that impression,..from May 3rd last year we had constant temperatures from 80F then the highest was in June of 90F,..too warm for us,..between 60F and 70F we can just manage our average temperature would be 50F.

We don't have a set climate here,..Climate of Ireland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh! You're temperate oceanic (Cfb) . I'm Csb - dry-summer subtropical - similar to yours but with a dry summer. I usually think of my climate as Mediterranean, but I guess it doesn't quite qualify.

Maybe my summers are also cooler than yours.

Its interesting reading the Wiki information about our weather,..nothing extreme,..of course the rain is here almost 200 days per year,..one gets cabin fever being housebound knowing the garden needs attention but one can only look out the window and plan,..yes we have similar climates except for the wet and dry comparisons.