Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima ‘Yolo Purple’ Common Name: Sweet Alyssum Hardiness Zone: Grown as an Annual in Most Climates (Perennial in USDA Zones 9–11) Mature Size: 4–6" Tall × 8–12" Spread Growth Habit: Compact, Dense, Mounding Habit Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Best Performance in Cooler Weather) Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Adapts to Average Garden Conditions Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established Bloom Season: Early Spring through Summer (Best Color in Cool to Mild Temperatures) Fertilizer: Light Feeding as Needed Features: Lavender-Purple Blooms, Uniform Growth, Lightly Fragrant, Easy Care Uses: Containers, Edging, Borders, Window Boxes, Cool-Season Color Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Allowed

More About Lobularia ‘Yolo Purple’

Lobularia ‘Yolo Purple’ produces rich lavender-purple flower clusters that deliver strong color while maintaining a soft, refined look in the garden. The blooms form a dense floral layer over compact foliage, filling space evenly without excessive trailing or spread. Its gentle fragrance and saturated color make it especially effective for adding contrast to lighter plantings and spring containers.

As part of the Yolo Series, ‘Yolo Purple’ was bred for uniform growth, reliable flowering, and broad garden versatility. It offers a balanced habit that falls between ultra-compact edging types and more vigorous trailing varieties, making it easy to integrate into both structured and relaxed planting designs.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Yolo Purple’ has shown consistent performance from early spring through early summer, holding color well and maintaining a neat, mounded form. It fills in quickly, flowers continuously, and responds well to light trimming if refreshed mid-season.

We especially like how dependable the color is. Unlike some purple alyssum varieties that fade or thin out quickly, ‘Yolo Purple’ stays full and vibrant, making it a reliable choice for containers, mass plantings, and detailed garden layouts.

Yolo Purple vs. Other Sweet Alyssum

Among the Yolo Series, ‘Yolo Purple’ offers the deepest color, delivering rich lavender-purple blooms while maintaining the same compact, uniform habit as Yolo Pink and White. Compared to Yolo White, it provides more contrast and visual weight, and compared to Yolo Pink, it delivers stronger saturation without overpowering nearby plants. All Yolo varieties share consistent height and spread, making them easy to mix interchangeably.

When compared to Easy Breezy™ Purple, ‘Yolo Purple’ is more refined and far less trailing, making it easier to manage in structured designs. Against Stream™ Compact Purple, it is slightly fuller and less rigid in form. Among purple alyssum options, ‘Yolo Purple’ stands out for balance rather than intensity alone. Gardeners love this variety for dependable purple color that stays neat, controlled, and easy to design with.