For Aus.iist, l>)21 



663 



Hardy Alyssum 



RICHARD ROTHE 



INHABITING tlu- tlry hill?- and mountainous sections 

 of Central and SouilK-rn Kurcjjje nearly all the hardy 

 species of the genus AlyssiDit- are Spring-tlowering. 

 With very few exceptions the dwarfy, branching, creep- 

 ing and, in some instances, at their base, shrubby garden 

 forms have stems and leaves of grayish hoar)- nature. 

 Those meriting our attention most produce bright yellow 

 flowers in close corymbose heads or simple racemes, the 

 singular blossoms being cruciform. 



Highly treasured on account of free-flt)wering habit are 

 the dwarf compact-growing forms of AlyssiDii sa.ratilc. 

 Very showy as edging, or when emj)loyed for grouping 

 near the edge of open sunny borders in formal gardens. 



to give the plants time to get established before the frost 

 stops vegetation. When aiming for full effect the first 

 year and depending on Spring planting earliness in per- 

 fecting the work is equally important. 



Though extraordinarily resistant as to the ettects of 

 hot weather and prolonged drought as well as damaging 

 influence of frigid Winters, the cases of failure or even 

 outright loss of plantations in our Middle Atlantic .States 

 are very seldom met with. We admire the luxin-iant 

 foliage of our Alyssums and how w-ell it has withstood 

 successive waves of mid-Summer heat without watering 

 until, in the wake of a new wave, we have rainstorms in 



.llxssuiii M<iiiliiiiiiiii i.ii'aiiilif!:in(iii 



Alyssiim sa.ratilc compactuni and its lemon-colored variety 

 citrinuni have been favorites with generations of garden- 

 ers and flower-lovers. For dry-wall plantings and more so 

 for the arrangements of brilliant vernal color arrays in 

 our rock gardens, we consider the free use of "Basket of 

 Gold" as simply indispensable. We joyfully greet the 

 appearance of the first golden yellow tinge when Adonis 

 amurc))sis unfolds its blossoms in Feliruary and March ; 

 we notice the gaining strength of it when added to flower- 

 ing tufts of \-ellow crocuses and Priiniila clatior liiica in 

 April. During the rapidly swelling crescendo at the be- 

 ginning of May it needs the clear yellow masses of close 

 corymbose heads of Alyssiiin- saxatilc cnmpactum to vie 

 harmoniously with the lavish display of blue, lavender, 

 pink and white hues in the festive color symphonies which 

 are to be the pride of our rock gardens along the open 

 sunny slope. 



Using Alyssums extensi\el\' it is necessary to make 

 Spring sowings every year. .Seeds germinate and appear 

 above the light, sandy soil surface within a week to ten 

 days. Expose seedlings to the full sun and open air as 

 soon as possible and water moderately. Early in June, 

 when of sufficient size, seedlings should be transplanted 

 out in the open ground, the beds well manured and ex- 

 posed to sunlight and air. Paying attention to the given 

 conditions we are reasonably sure of having strong thrift\- 

 stock 1)y the first of October. .Mvssiuns when lifted out 

 of the open ground, on account of the absence of a thick 

 fibre root .system, rarely hold any ball. For this reason 

 Fall plantings should be made before October 15th, so as 



Alyssum Sa.wilUi L ^nnfiuiuin 



lirief intervals, the mercury ra]iidly rising after every 

 storm. Soaking wet, while a liumid'ity-laden atmosphere 

 remains tropical, the luxuriant foliage is apt to damp off 

 in a very short time. Plantations in dry-walls, on slant- 

 ing ground, or otherwise favored by conditions to allow, 

 excessi\-e rainwater to run otT quickly are comparatively 

 safe. .Myssums on level ground should never be allowed 

 to become crowded and care should be taken in keeping 

 the weeds down. 



Heavy manure or leaf covering is apt to cause similar 

 damage in Winter. Protection by spruce or other ever- 

 green boughs, or a thin layer of straw, allowing access of 

 air, has proved a better way of procedure, while during 

 exceptionally mild Winters plantations not covered at all 

 frequently survive best. 



The cultiu-al directions and various conditions given 

 above apjily also to the variegated leaved form, saxatilc 

 compactuni fol. var. and the very handsome double flow- 

 ering, but rarely obtainable, saxatilc coiiipactiiin tl. pi. of 

 gardens abroad. 



Of the species coming undrr my European training the 

 garden form of Alyssum moutanum. moutanuin i^randi- 

 tlorum. seems to me well worth trying out in our climate. 

 .\s shown by our cut it forms a small conqiaci tuft, cov- 

 ered in May by blossoms in color deej) vcllow. Ah'ssum 

 Moclloulortianum. a small silverv leaved creeping species. 

 from llosnia. covered bv tiny little vellow flowers, no 

 doubt, would be a welcome acc|uisiiion for some of our 

 amateur ])lant collectors, while a dozen or more other 

 species named are chiefly of interest to botanists. 



