"Snow Princess" photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum
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Submitted bybrJenny Wegley, Dallas Arboretum
Are you getting bored with mums, pansies, violas and kale for your fallbrgarden palette? If they are becoming mundane to you, we have a new plant tobrtry, hybrid Lobularia. These new hybrid forms of alyssum are much morebrvigorous and cold tolerant than the older varieties that have disappointed usbrbefore. The genus name Lobularia comes from the Latin name globulus,meaning small globe, and refers to the shape of the clusters of flowers.brIt’s a perfect name for a plant that looks like a shaken snow globe.
Three seasons ago, Proven Winners released the first vegetative Lobulariainto the market. Before this, all Lobularia were grown only from seed. Abrvegetative product allows for a more vigorous plant with more flower power.brJust one of these new plants can reach 2 feet across in a season. There are nowbrthree cultivars available. ‘Snow Princess’ was the first on the market, withbrnarrow, dark green leaves covered in pure white, quarter-sized flower clusters.br‘Frosty Knight’ and ‘Blushing Princess’ are additions to this series thisbrseason. ‘Frosty Knight’ has white and lime-green variegated foliage with creambrto white flowers. ‘Blushing Princess’ has the same characteristics as ‘SnowbrPrincess’, but is covered in lilac flowers. Both are more compact than thebroriginal ‘Snow Princess’. Plant them in containers to add a splash of cascadingbrcolor, or use them in the landscape to add mounds of foamy white flowers, likebra touch of baby’s breath in a bouquet.
Plant in full sun to part shade, and water on a regular basis; all threebrcultivars are thirsty plants. Most likely you will find these only in 5-inch,brquart, 1-gallon or larger containers. The price point will be slightly higherbrthan that for a 4-inch seed cultivar, but you only have to buy a quarterbrof what you would normally buy, and the plants will last much longer in yourbrgarden. At the Dallas Arboretum, we've found that we can keep them all winterbrlong if we cover with frost cloth when there is a heavy frost or freeze. Forbrareas north of Dallas, I recommend these only for early spring or late fallbrcolor. Zone 7 winters are their limit. From Waco south, you should bebrgood for all-winter to late-spring color. We have found these varieties alsobrare heat tolerant enough to last all summer if given constant moisture and abrlittle late-afternoon shade. Be sure to buy these by name at the nursery. Ifbryou don't see ‘Snow Princess', ‘Frosty Knight' or ‘Blushing Princess', avoidbrthe temptation. The seed-grown varieties just don't perform as well for usbrTexas Gardeners.
AT A GLANCE
Latin name: Lobularia hybrid
Common name: Sweet alyssum
Flowers: Quarter-sized clusters of flowers
Mature size: 4-6” tall by 18-24” wide
Hardiness: Summer and fall annual
Soil: Moist soil
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
Water usage: High to medium
Sources: Local nurseries or mail order
About the author:brJenny Wegley is the senior manager of trials and greenhouse at the DallasbrArboretum. Visit Dallas Plant Trials forbrmore information on the Arboretum’s trials.