FLOWER GARDEN

Type: Annual flower, Perennial flower

Species: 100 - 170

Height: 10 - 100

Growing: Europe, Asia

Flowers: Yellow, White, Blue, PInk

Kingdom: Plantae

Unranked: Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids

Order: Brassicales

Family: Brassicaceae

Genus: Alyssum

ALYSSUM . The various species of Alyssum or Madwort are distinguished by hardiness, freedom of bloom, brightness of color, and ease of cultivation. Of those which are grown as annuals, the white sweet Alyssum (maritimum) is 10-12 inches high, but a more useful variety is the low - growing white compactum or Little Dorr.t, 4 inches high, which blooms throughout the summer. A Lilac Queen, 4 inches high, has blush-colored flowers. All are sown out of doors in spring.

There are many forms of saxatile (“Gold Dust”), a dwarf perennial with yellow flowers. Compactum is more desirable than the type, being of denser habit: flore pleno has double flowers. Alpestre and montanum have yellow flowers pyrenaicum and spinosum are white; Wierzbecckii has deep yellow flowers on stems 18 inches high. They all like a limestone or sandy soil and a sunny position. Pron. A-liss’-um.

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