Sweet alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Honey-scented carpet that feeds the tiny wasps and hoverflies that eat aphids.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 0.5 ft tall, 1 ft wide
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Sweet alyssum grows wild on Mediterranean sea cliffs. Lettuce and strawberry growers in California now plant it in strips through their fields, because the hoverflies it feeds lay their eggs among the aphids.
Planting
Press seed onto the soil surface in early spring; it needs light to sprout. Sun or part shade.
Growing
Shear it back by half when it tires in midsummer heat, water, and it blooms again until hard frost.
Harvest and use
Nectar for the smallest beneficial insects, a living mulch under taller crops, and a honey scent along the path.
What to watch for
It stalls in hot weather. It self-sows freely in mild climates.
See if Sweet alyssum fits your yard
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More helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home