sweet alyssum

noun

: a widely cultivated European herb (Lobularia maritima) of the mustard family having narrow leaves and clusters of small fragrant usually white or pink flowers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The frost-proof flowers include pansies, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, calendulas and sweet alyssum, and the vegetables include plants from the brassica family ― cabbage, brussels sprout and radishes ― as well as root vegetables, leafy greens, peas, and fava beans. Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 18 Apr. 2023 Between the rows, tiny, scented sweet alyssum flowers offer a refuge to beneficial insects. Sarah Henry, SFChronicle.com, 18 Sep. 2020 Layer sweet alyssum with spring bulbs or other more upright flowers that tolerate the cold, such as snapdragons. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 4 Feb. 2023 Consider planting it in a container as a vertical accent alongside smaller cool-tolerant flowers, such as sweet alyssum or nemesia. Ashley Abramson, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2022 Flowers to start in four packs or flats: Nemesia, scabiosa, sweet alyssum, bachelor buttons, marigolds, clarkia, zinnia and calendula. Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Apr. 2022 Angelica, coreopsis, cosmos, and sweet alyssum will bring lacewings to your garden. The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 11 May 2016 Nurseries are receiving supplies of ornamental Swiss chard, larkspurs, Iceland poppies, sweet alyssum, petunias, stocks, wallflowers, snapdragons and a host of other nice sources of color. Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 26 Jan. 2018 Gardeners may spot sweet alyssum, passionflower and yarrow, but others probably won’t. Pete Wells, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sweet alyssum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweet alyssum was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near sweet alyssum

Cite this Entry

“Sweet alyssum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20alyssum. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

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