FlowerAlyssum
Carpet of Snow Alyssum
Ground Cover
Carpet of Snow Alyssum is one of the world's most beloved ornamental flowers, prized for its ability to create elegant, uniform mounds of delicate blooms. This open-pollinated annual grows just 4 to 6 inches tall, making it perfect for edging, containers, and mass plantings where you need reliable color from early summer through frost. Hardy across zones 3 through 11 and ready to bloom in 50 to 59 days from seed, Carpet of Snow delivers the kind of effortless beauty that has made it a staple in floral shops and home gardens for generations.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy To Loamy Soil; Tolerates Poor Soils
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
6 in
Height
—
Width
6 in
Spacing
50–59
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
6in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Carpet of Snow apart is its predictable, tidy growth habit, a dense mound that stays proportional and full without excessive pruning. The flowers are small and delicate yet abundant, creating a seamless carpet of white blooms across the entire plant. It's a true workhorse for gardeners who want reliable color without fussiness, and it germinates and establishes quickly from seed, making it ideal for beginners and experienced growers alike. The open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, building your own supply.
Common Uses
Carpet of Snow Alyssum is grown primarily as an ornamental flowering plant, valued for edging borders, filling containers, cascading over window boxes, and creating low drifts of color in garden beds. Its compact mounding form and prolific blooming make it particularly popular with florists and gardeners designing cottage gardens or cottage-style mixed plantings where soft textures and continuous color are desired.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Not Applicable
Last Harvest
Not Applicable
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow on the surface of moist seed-starting mix without covering, as Carpet of Snow seeds need light to germinate. Keep soil temperature around 70°F and maintain consistent moisture. Seeds typically germinate within 7 to 14 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Move to the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Plant at the same depth they were growing in pots, spacing them 6 inches apart.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil is workable. Sprinkle seeds on prepared soil and press gently into contact without burying them. Keep soil consistently moist until germination occurs, typically within 7 to 14 days.
Pruning
Carpet of Snow naturally maintains a neat mounding form and rarely requires pruning. Deadheading spent flower clusters encourages denser flowering and extends the bloom season, though this is optional as the plant blooms so prolifically that it always looks full. If growth becomes leggy or sparse in midsummer, cut plants back by one-third to rejuvenate them and promote bushier regrowth.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Alyssum simplex Rudolphi
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Alyssum
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)