Lobularia maritima

Sweet alyssum

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Sweet alyssum is a naturalized perennial herb found in coastal California bioregions including Northern Coast, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay, and Southern Coast in disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces small white to pale lavender flowers in delicate clusters, typically 2 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with erect to prostrate green stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall that branch from the base, it forms dense, spreading mats. Its narrow linear leaves are 1.6 to 2.5 centimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide, with a pointed acute tip. The small round-elliptic fruits are 2 to 2.7 millimeters long, contributing to its compact and delicate appearance.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields

Bloom period: Mar-Oct

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SnFrB, SCo

California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, San Mateo, Marin, Fresno, Mendocino, Napa, Butte, Humboldt, Contra Costa, Alameda, Yolo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.