A bedding plant can be annual, biennial or a short-lived perennial plant that is planted for colour and used for a short-term display.  Bedding plants include the likes of pansies, marigolds, snapdragons, and stock. 

Purchased by the punnet, they are planted in display gardens or used to brighten up a garden bed, popped in hanging baskets or planted around potted plants for added colour. For a small price, you can brighten up bare spots or get ready for a special occasion such as a garden wedding or a party. 

Alyssum has an all-year flowering time - you don’t get much better than that. When alyssum’s in flower it’s completely covered with tiny, perfumed flowers of white, pink and shades of mauve. 

Alyssum is a native of southern Europe and is a low, spreading plant with a height of about 10 centimetres and a spread of 20 to 30 centimetres.

We grow a lot of alyssum in the Wodonga TAFE nursery because it’s fast-growing, very hardy and excels when mass planted or used as a border plant. 

It really prefers full sun and is relatively frost and drought hardy. 

The Border region’s incredibly hot summers test the drought hardiness of this plant, and I suggest during hot weeks you deeply water your display beds. 

Alyssum has a long flowering season but it does respond well to a light prune. Pruning should be carried out after the first flush of flowers, this will encourage a longer display. If you allow the finished flowers to remain on the plant you will very quickly have a supply of seed available. Even if you don’t deliberately collect and scatter the seeds, the plant will do it itself, and seedlings of alyssum will be popping up in no time. 

There are a number of different varieties available at any time – local nurseries will have a few for you to choose from. If you buy the cameo mix or the pastel mix alyssum you get a selection of the colours available, an informal blend of tones for your garden. If you don’t want a mix you can buy punnets of individual colours. Alyssum is a good reliable plant which might only let you down during the hottest of weeks, it flowers for months and months and delights with its delicate perfume. 

DIARY

Interested in Bonsai? Valibo Nursery has workshops during June. There’s a beginners’ workshop on June 12; styling workshop, June 2; maintenance workshop, June 6 and a forest workshop on June 9.  For times, costs, and other information ring 02 6025 1505 or email johnvanlint44@gmail.com.