alyssum

noun

alys·​sum ə-ˈli-səm 

1

: any of a genus (Alyssum) of Eurasian herbs of the mustard family with small usually yellow racemose flowers

called also madwort

2

: sweet alyssum

Examples of alyssum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here, Gerdes created an airy, cohesive container with delicate, shimmering flowers of alyssum and ‘Glitz’ euphorbia, pops of pale purple ‘Starfish’ petunia blooms, soft mounds of velvety artemisia, and trailing silver tendrils of dichondra. —Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025

In several poems evocative of mystical, moonlit summer evenings, alyssum makes an appearance as if summoned by a spell. —Laura Murphy, JSTOR Daily, 28 Feb. 2025

In the casual garden, roses contrast and pair wonderfully with the vertical showy spikes of foxgloves, penstemons, delphiniums, stock and snapdragons and the tiny, dainty flowers of alyssum, daisies and nemesia. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025

Growing Conditions: Full sun in cool and moderate climates and part shade in hot areas; consistently moist, well-draining soil Size: Up to 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide Zones: 9–11 If alyssum plants take on a scraggly, unkempt appearance, prune the stems back by half their length. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin alysson "a kind of madder," borrowed from Greek álysson "any of several plants used to treat rabies," noun derivative from neuter of ályssos "curing madness," from a- a- entry 2 + -lyssos, adjective derivative of lýssa, Attic lýtta "rage, frenzy, rabies," perhaps derivative, with the abstract noun suffix *-ya (going back to Indo-European *-i̯h₂) from the stem of lýkos "wolf" — more at wolf entry 1

Note: An alternative hypothesis sees a connection with Indo-European *luk-, zero grade of the base *leu̯k- "light, bright" (see light entry 1), assuming an association between rage or frenzy and unnaturally sparkling eyes. Support for this association is allegedly given by the phrase in Pindar leukaîs pithḗsanta phrasín "heeding his bright/flashing/violent (?) heart," along with Hesychius's gloss of leukaî phrénes as "raging" (mainómenai).

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alyssum

• sweet alyssum

Rhymes for alyssum

• aneurysm
• cataclysm