Alyssum

Alyssum — Alyssum is a genus of about 100-170 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region.

The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10-100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves and yellow or white flowers (pink to purple in a few species).

The genus Lobularia is closely related to Alyssum and was formerly included in it. The widely cultivated species popularly known as “Sweet Alyssum” is Lobularia maritima.

Alyssum is a genus of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs or subshrubs belonging to the mustard family, Cruciferae. Species of Alyssum are particularly suitable as edging plants for flower gardens. Foliage is generally grayish and the flowers yellow or, sometimes, white. Some dwarf forms attain a height of less than 8 cm (about 3 in). One popular species is sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima, a perennial that grows up to 23 cm (9 in) tall.

The best-known species of Alyssum, Aurina saxatilis, is commonly called golden tuft, gold dust, or rock madwort; it is popular in rock gardens. Aurina murale, yellow tuft, is similar to saxatilis but flowers later.