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Alpine Rockery

Alyssum montanum

mountain madwort

An evergreen, prostrate perennial with small, hairy, grey leaves. Spherical flowerheads of soft yellow, scented flowers are borne in summer. Height to 15cm

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Alyssum can be annuals or evergreen perennials or sub-shrubs, with simple leaves and short racemes of small, 4-petalled yellow or white flowers in early summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny, well-drained situation; ideally suited to rock garden conditions

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cutting or by propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Rock garden

Pruning

Cut back lightly after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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