Alyssum Spinosum information wanted

[maggiepie]

I received some alyssum spinosum seeds in the lucky dip surplus seeds earlier this year, and they are sprouting at the moment.
I can't find much information about them and would like to know if they are invasive in the garden, before I plant them.
Any information would be appreciated.

[Lori S.]

It's not invasive in my experience... I have it in a trough where it's done nicely, and covers itself in bloom in spring.  I've seen it in the ground in an alpine garden here - it seems to grow in a slow manner, at least in our climate and conditions.  (It was formerly Ptilotrichum spinosum.)

I should add... mine is 'Roseum' - the flowers are normally white.

[maggiepie]

Lori, thanks a lot.
Never having actually seen it I was a bit concerned it might self seed all over the place.
Now I don't have to worry about giving some of the plants away 

[Rodger Whitlock]

It's one of those plants that seemingly does best in brilliantly lit conditions with poor, sharply drained soil.

Perhaps that's the wrong dialectic, however, and a better way of putting it is that this plant does better under such harsh conditions than many others.

[Lesley Cox]

and won't spread about. It is a little shrub of spiny character and is, to my mind, choice. It looks like the 'Roseum' form in Lori's picture. Some are pale, almost flesh pink.

[maggiepie]

Rodger, thanks for your input, I have enough seedlings to try them in lots of different places and conditions.

Lesley, I am really glad to hear you say that!!
Hmmmm does reading count as hearing?
The seeds sprouted like weeds so fast I was a bit concerned and was only going to keep a couple and chuck the rest.
Now I will hoard them 

[Lesley Cox]

I don't want to put a dampener on things, but I really hope your seedlings ARE what they're supposed to be Helen. I've never had any viable seed on mine. Like getting viola pedata from a seed list. You KNOW it's wrong when you get a hundred seeds and they germinate within a few weeks. It's always V. pedatifida. Nice enough but not up to the genuine thing.

[maggiepie]

Lesley, would the leaves identify them at an early stage?

[Maggi Young]

Helen, this page from the Ottowa Valley RG club has a good shot of more mature fioliage which may be of help to you......     http://www.ovrghs.ca/gallery/pages/Ptilotrichum%20spinosum.htm

[maggiepie]

Maggi, thanks for the link, now I just have to wait 

[maggiepie]

While looking for information on Alyssum spinossum, the white version ( google), I came upon this old thread.
The seedlings I had from the lucky dip list were indeed A. spinossum, only managed to keep one alive but it flowered last year.
Here is a pic.
I didn't get any seeds but think there were some there.
I was absolutely charmed by this little plant, it was absolutely gorgeous.
Hope it has survived winter.

[tonyg]

Looks like the real thing.  I have grown it in the past, like Rodger I found it thrived in a dry, sunny place in poor soil.  It eventually got so big (across not high) that the it suffered damage in the middle and became untidy.  Never got seed and cuttings were difficult to root.  I no longer have it but keep looking out for another plant.

[mark smyth]

Tony a local 'alpine' supplier puts it in garden centres in N Ireland. If I see it will I get you one?

[Lori S.]

Well done, Helen!  It is also somewhat evergreen, even here, so when the snow melts, you may be able to tell if it overwintered successfully.  Here's my little plant, as it was briefly exposed... (though now covered again by snow):

[tonyg]

Tony a local 'alpine' supplier puts it in garden centres in N Ireland. If I see it will I get you one?

Kind offer Mark - might be a bit fragile to post though!