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
Examples of sweet alyssum in a Sentence
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Boost the chances of pollination by planting marigolds, nasturtium, or sweet alyssum along the garden’s edges to attract the pollinators that will move pollen from male to female blooms.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Though marigolds and sweet alyssum don’t directly affect each other, sweet alyssum will work to bring in hoverflies and ladybugs, and marigolds can work as a trap plant that graphs pests and holds them for the predatory insects to feed upon.
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Scheufele suggests planting low-growing, short-season flowers like sweet alyssum or nasturtium seeds at the same time as tomato seedlings.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 4 Feb. 2026
And ornamental cabbage and kale, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, and the list goes on and on.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
For gardeners who want to keep the planting bed all white, adding white companion plantings like sweet alyssum, nemesia or daisies maintains the color scheme and helps provide diverse plantings to attract beneficial insects into the garden to help with pest problems.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Sweet Alyssum Also popular in spring gardens, sweet alyssum is a hardy annual that can handle light frost.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025
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Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Though marigolds and sweet alyssum don’t directly affect each other, sweet alyssum will work to bring in hoverflies and ladybugs, and marigolds can work as a trap plant that graphs pests and holds them for the predatory insects to feed upon.
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
Scheufele suggests planting low-growing, short-season flowers like sweet alyssum or nasturtium seeds at the same time as tomato seedlings.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 4 Feb. 2026
And ornamental cabbage and kale, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, and the list goes on and on.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
For gardeners who want to keep the planting bed all white, adding white companion plantings like sweet alyssum, nemesia or daisies maintains the color scheme and helps provide diverse plantings to attract beneficial insects into the garden to help with pest problems.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Sweet Alyssum Also popular in spring gardens, sweet alyssum is a hardy annual that can handle light frost.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet alyssum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20alyssum. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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