Purple alyssum

Purple alyssum.

* Common name: Purple sweet alyssum

* Botanical name: Lobularia maritima

* What it is: A short, mounding, fine-textured annual flower that gets tiny, dainty flower “buttons” spring through frost. Mildly sweet fragrance. May reseed, but not invasively. Also comes in white or pink. ‘Easter Bonnet Violet’ and ‘Violet Queen’ are two nice purple bloomers.

* Size: 6 inches tall with a 12- to 15-inch spread.

* Where to use: Nice edging annual along sidewalks, walkways, paths or the front of foundation beds and under tall shrubs. Full sun or part shade.

* Care: Water weekly in heat, otherwise very drought-tolerant. Fertilize monthly with a high-phosphorus flower fertilizer. Seldom bothered by rabbits. Reseeded baby plants can be transplanted in spring. Yank frost-killed plants in fall.

* Great partner: Ideal around the bare bottoms of roses or other tall shrubs. Also looks good at the base of green evergreens, such as boxwoods and holly.