Alyssum
Alyssum (rock alyssum) blooms with a luminous, honeyed haze of small flowers that seem to glow against stony beds—an aromatic, evergreen groundcover that turns rock gardens into living constellations.
Expect a dense, low mound of fine, silvery-green foliage with a softly textured, cushion-like feel, then a long season of profuse color that settles the eye and steadies the landscape. Ideal for brightening pathways, edging, and dry, sunny slopes where its tidy habit and enduring charm shine year after year.
Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Clumping
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Alyssum Planting Dates by USDA Zone
Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Apr 20th | Jun 15th | Sep 13th – Jul 15th |
| Zone 1b | Apr 6th | Jun 1st | Aug 30th – Aug 1st |
| Zone 2a | Mar 30th | May 25th | Aug 23rd – Aug 29th |
| Zone 2b | Mar 20th | May 15th | Aug 13th – Aug 25th |
| Zone 3a | Mar 20th | May 15th | Aug 13th – Sep 1st |
| Zone 3b | Mar 24th | May 19th | Aug 17th – Sep 21st |
| Zone 4a | Mar 20th | May 15th | Aug 13th – Sep 24th |
| Zone 4b | Mar 18th | May 13th | Aug 11th – Sep 27th |
| Zone 5a | Mar 13th | May 8th | Aug 6th – Sep 30th |
| Zone 5b | Mar 9th | May 4th | Aug 2nd – Oct 5th |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6th | May 1st | Jul 30th – Oct 10th |
| Zone 6b | Feb 28th | Apr 25th | Jul 24th – Oct 16th |
| Zone 7a | Feb 23rd | Apr 20th | Jul 19th – Oct 20th |
| Zone 7b | Feb 13th | Apr 10th | Jul 9th – Oct 28th |
| Zone 8a | Feb 4th | Apr 1st | Jun 30th – Nov 5th |
| Zone 8b | Jan 26th | Mar 23rd | Jun 21st – Nov 12th |
| Zone 9a | Jan 9th | Mar 6th | Jun 4th – Nov 26th |
| Zone 9b | Dec 15th | Feb 9th | May 10th – Dec 9th |
| Zone 10a | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 10b | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 11a | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 11b | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 12a | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 12b | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 13a | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
| Zone 13b | — | Oct 1st | Dec 30th – Feb 28th |
Crop Details
| Trait | Value |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 90 |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun |
| Growth Habit | Clumping |
| Support Needed | None |
| Planting Depth | Surface |
| Germination Temp (°F) | 60 |
| Min Soil Temp (°F) | 40 |
| Min Night Temp (°F) | 35 |
| Harden Off (days) | 7 |
Sowing Tips
Transplant Conditions
Wait until soil reaches 40°F and nights stay above 35°F before moving outdoors. Harden off for 7 days first.
Expert Note
For best results, start indoors early (or sow lightly) and transplant only after nights are reliably mild and the soil drains well to prevent crown rot.