Tall White Sweet Alyssum Seeds – Benthamii

Honey-Fragrant White Flowers for Borders and Pots

Tall White Sweet Alyssum ‘Benthamii’ (Lobularia maritima) produces airy clusters of small white flowers with a gentle honey fragrance. This taller alyssum offering brings a soft, informal look to garden edges, containers and hanging baskets.

Plant it beside a path or near a sitting area where you can enjoy the scent up close. Its white flowers blend easily with brighter seasonal blooms, while the spreading growth softens the edge of a planter.

What You Receive

Seeds for planting, not live plants. Choose from 500 seeds, 2,000 seeds, 1/4 oz or 1 oz. The 1 oz option is listed as approximately 70,000 seeds; counts in weight-based packs vary by seed lot.

Plant Details

• Botanical name: Lobularia maritima ‘Benthamii’.
• Common name: Tall White Sweet Alyssum.
• Life cycle: Usually grown as an annual; may persist longer in mild climates.
• Height: Approximately 10–12 inches under suitable conditions, with size varying by site and season.
• Flowers: Small white clusters with a honey-like fragrance.
• Light: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: Well-drained soil; avoid prolonged saturation.
• Uses: Edging, mixed borders, containers and hanging baskets.

Tiny Seeds: Surface Sow, Do Not Bury

Sweet alyssum seeds need light for germination. Work over a tray in a sheltered place and scatter the seeds sparingly onto pre-moistened seed-starting mix. Press gently onto the surface without burying them under soil. Use a fine mist or bottom watering to avoid washing the seeds away.

Starting from Seed

• Indoors: Sow approximately 6–8 weeks before your planned outdoor planting date.
• Temperature: Aim for approximately 60–70°F during germination.
• Moisture: Keep the surface evenly moist, not soggy, until seedlings establish.
• Germination: Allow roughly 1–3 weeks, depending on conditions.
• Seedling care: Provide bright light and good airflow. Thin crowded seedlings carefully.
• Transplanting: Gradually acclimate indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting out.
• Direct sowing: Sow outdoors in early spring when the soil can be worked. In mild-winter areas, fall sowing can suit the cooler growing season.
• Spacing: Allow approximately 6–8 inches between plants, adjusting for your layout and airflow.

Growing and Seasonal Care

Water regularly during establishment and check soil moisture during dry spells. Established plants can tolerate some dryness, but seedlings and container plants should not be treated as needing almost no water. Good drainage remains important at every stage.

Flowering is often strongest in cool weather. Seed-grown sweet alyssum may slow or stop blooming during summer heat. Some afternoon shade can help in hot locations. Lightly trim straggly stems and spent flowers, then maintain suitable moisture to encourage fresh growth when conditions improve.

Container and Hanging-Basket Care

Choose a planter with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix. Place alyssum near the rim to soften the edge, leaving room for companion plants rather than crowding seedlings together.

• Check moisture frequently, especially in baskets and warm weather.
• Water thoroughly when needed and let excess water drain freely.
• Avoid leaving pots standing in water.
• Trim lightly if plants become open or leggy.

Self-Sowing and Winter Expectations

Plants may self-sow where conditions suit them. Remove spent flowers before seed matures if you want to limit volunteers. Returning seedlings and winter survival are not guaranteed; plan this planting primarily as a seasonal annual display.