rouge21, Sweet Alyssum is one of my favorites, that's for sure. I've lived in the South for much of my life and have the fortune of enjoying this plant all winter. I love to combine pansies (another winter hardy plant) and alyssum together in containers for a pretty display until late spring.

I've got three pots of alyssum, one each of the pink, purple, and white on my patio table. They are so fragrant! And guess who enjoys them most of all?

The bees!

the wall and pavement have retained enough heat.. so far ... to offset night cold ... but it will catch up ... lol ..

what i would do ... when it finally gets hit ... or before the snowblower will get clogged .... is just pull it out at the crown ... and lay it upside down ... where you want the A next year .... maybe put a rock on it.. to hold it there ...

come about may ... next year.. when you move it ... you should see a bunch of babes ... at least that is how it happens in my MI ...

no matter what color you start with .. over the years.. the seedlings mostly regress to white ... dont know if its regression of the dna of a cultivar ... or perhaps .. the colors are not as winter hardy ... or the seed is sterile ... who knows ... [possible also..they just hate me ...]

i do recall some conversation with rhiz or gal ... that it might be different in different climes ... whatever ... i offer my experience and observation in my MI ...

ken

It is still going in my garden. I sprinkled the purple and white seeds about 4 years ago, and now I just pull it where I don't want it. Ken is right that the white ones like to come back in greater numbers each year, slowly edging out the purple. Other than a few stray roses and a potted snapdragon, these are about the only flowers left for me. Every once in a while I detect fragrance from the alyssum, but usually I am unable to detect any scent.

Old post, I know....

Alyssum is a favorite of mine as well. Easy to grow, easy to rip out if growing where you don't want it, and great fragrance. Additional benefit-- mason bees love them. Arlene, from the picture you posted, looks like you have them in a fairly shady spot. I find their fragrance is strongest on a warm/hot sunny day. (I plant them where they get full sun.)

I LOVE alyssum - not for the flowers but for the scent. In the right spot I find it attractive (as an underplanting in beds or pots, for example), but I've seen large plantings of it than look ratty as the season wears on. But oh that SCENT! I find it comforting, a memory of days gone by, although I can't pinpoint why - I have no specific memory associated with the scent.