Alyssum - sowing question
mxk3 z5b_MI
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (15)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agorob333 (zone 7b)
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Questions about purple alyssum
Comments (5)You're lucky--you must have perfect conditions for them if you got purple allyssum to grow like that. It usually doesn't grow as well or as big as the white. It is an annual so I imagine it will eventually bloom itself out. I grow the easter basket allyssum-- a mixture of colors white, pink, cream, and mauve. It reseeds and I usually end up with all the colors. Whether yours will come back dark purple, I don't know, but I'd say the chances are good...See MoreAlyssum saxitile 'Basket of Gold' questions
Comments (6)The correct name is Aurinia saxitile and it is most often listed as a rather low maintenance plant, as are a lot of common rock garden species. Why they gave it that description is a bit of a mystery to me, too!! And yes, it is extremely common here in the Seattle area, where it is used extensively on the top of rock walls, in rockeries or as a border edging plant. It's a kind of a confirmation that spring is really here when you see the screaming yellow flowers in full bloom in April and May! Not the slightest bit invasive, it doesn't even seem to reseed much but does spread out through rather slowly creeping stems that root along their length. Drought tolerant when established and the only attention it seems to require is annual shearing back after flowering to keep the plant compact and tidy. Here is a link that might be useful: Basket of Gold...See MoreSummer Sowed some Alyssum... don't have a clue when to plant out
Comments (4)Well, I think you should wait until they get bigger, you're in my zone, and I'd dig them out with a spoon, whatever, and transplant in hunks about Sep 1 although I don't know if they will bloom in time to self seed which they do like crazy if you don't mulch. They just might bloom yet if we don't have too early of a frost, wish I could remember how long it takes, it's not right away but maybe as much as 3 weeks from good growth to blooms, sunny probably bloom much faster, they tolerate some shade and still bloom some, too much shade they are healthy but not blooming for me. I have so many I don't know what to do with them all am letting them self seed and transplanting to make a full border in the front and back because they bloom well, spread, and I like them. Am done transplanting this year but have more going and will continue until I get what I want, then start pulling the excess. Once they start blooming in early summer, they bloom well until frost. They are among the easiest to transplant so long as you water them the first couple of weeks. I'd just be afraid to transplant when they might be too tiny to survive especially now that it's pretty hot. I suppose you could have direct sowed but that is tricky in summer because they have to be kept moist. I started mine in a milk jug winter before last, and now have tons from self sowing. If you want to try that in the future in the summer, I suggest you scoop out a little cavity, fill with potting soil, sow the seeds, and cover with a 2-liter soda bottle with the bottom cut out, then water over the bottle because the seeds need light to germinate I think but probably will anyway. Oh, leave the cap off. Somebody taught me that trick when I sowed some gypsophilia paniculata which doesn't like to be transplanted. When you don't see moisture in the bottle or soil where they are planted looks dry, water over the bottle well. Then take the bottle off once they're germinated and grown a bit and don't let them dry out until they can make it on their own. You could cut the bottom of whatever you sowed them in and plant that, reason being they're less likely to crumble on you. Mine I had to dig up in chunks from the ground and slice in sections with a knife to transplant but used a spoon to scoop them out of a porch box I'd planted them in, worked well a few years back. Then I saved some seeds and winter sowed those, meant to this year but didn't get around to it so feared I may have lost them but got lucky. The main thing is if you want them next year, to get them blooming ASAP so they'll set seed you can either collect or let self sow. The particular variety I happen to have, some white, don't know the name, got from American Meadows a few years back, happens to be an excellent spreader so I wanted to keep those particular ones going and not buy seeds for a different kind. I tried some colored ones, and they don't spread or trail at all, and I think some whites don't either. They will grow under extremely dry conditions in poor, heavy soil once established. Hope this helps. Sorry it's so long....See MoreButterfly Garden for Library--Question about Alyssum
Comments (2)I don't know about Allysum, but I have a lot of common fleabane, and that grows tall, and does spread quickly. Are you looking for a tall plant, or short like ground cover? A lot of my fleabane, unless mowed down occasionally, gets right up there w/ the Queen Anne's Lace, which here, the one's left alone are 4-5ft tall. They actually look quite nice together. I've been collecting seed from both to plant in the field accross the street (along w/ Milkweed)...See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
4 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
4 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
4 years agodbarron
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agorob333 (zone 7b)
4 years agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodonna_in_sask
4 years agorob333 (zone 7b)
4 years agodbarron
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agorob333 (zone 7b)
4 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGNExuberant Self-Seeders for Gorgeous, Easy-Care Gardens
Keep weeds down, color high and maintenance low with beautful plants that sow themselves
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Select the Right Gravel for Your Garden
Answer these 7 questions to find the right gravel size, color and texture for your needs and landscape style
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Plant a New Lawn From Seed
Choose from more grass varieties and save money over sod by starting your lawn from seed
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESMaking Sense of a Seed Packet
These small envelopes offer a surprising amount of information for a gardener
Full StorySUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLESHow to Grow Your Own Fresh, Sweet Corn
Here's how to plant and care for your own mini cornfield
Full StoryFLOWERSRudbeckia Mania: Go Beyond Black-Eyed Susan in the Garden
Branch out from typical nursery fare, with lesser-known Rudbeckia species that have delightfully unexpected features
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESShould You Remodel or Just Move?
If you're waffling whether 'tis better to work with what you've got or start fresh somewhere else, this architect's insight can help
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNGreat Design Plant: Quaking Aspen for 3-Season Beauty — on Its Own Turf
It offers bright fall foliage, snowy winter bark and lush green leaves in summer. Just don't try to plant quaking aspen away from its home
Full StoryADDITIONSHouzz Tour: London Victorian Gets a Sympathetic Makeover
An architect brings back the period charm as he expands and improves the functionality of a garden apartment
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Remodel Costs: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens
What you can expect from a kitchen remodel with a budget from $20,000 to $100,000
Full Story
dbarron