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When to Plant Sweet Alyssum in Arkansas

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing cool-season annual prized for its honey-scented clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple flowers. A workhorse border plant, it tolerates light frost, self-seeds readily, and attracts beneficial insects throughout its bloom season. In warm climates it often re-blooms in fall after summer heat fades.

Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Sweet Alyssum planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Sweet Alyssum Planting Calendar for Arkansas

Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 11 Feb 11 – Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 18
Bloom May 6 May 6 – Jul 29
Fall Sowing September 20 Sep 20 – Oct 4
Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 4 Feb 4 – Feb 18
Transplant Outdoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Direct Sow February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 11
Bloom April 29 Apr 29 – Aug 5
Fall Sowing September 27 Sep 27 – Oct 11
Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 25 Jan 25 – Feb 8
Transplant Outdoors February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8
Direct Sow February 1 Feb 1 – Feb 22
Bloom April 5 Apr 5 – Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 23 Sep 23 – Oct 7
Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 14 Jan 14 – Jan 28
Transplant Outdoors February 4 Feb 4 – Feb 18
Direct Sow January 14 Jan 14 – Feb 4
Bloom March 18 Mar 18 – Jul 22
Fall Sowing October 3 Oct 3 – Oct 17

Growing Tips for Arkansas

Surface-sow seeds — they need light to germinate. Direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring; in zones 7+ also sow in fall. Thin to 6 inches apart. Shear back hard in midsummer when heat causes dormancy — plants recover and re-bloom when cool weather returns. Self-seeds prolifically; allow a few plants to set seed for a perpetual colony.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sweet Alyssum in Arkansas?

Planting dates for Sweet Alyssum in Arkansas depend on your USDA zone. Arkansas spans zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Arkansas for planting?

Arkansas contains USDA hardiness zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: June 2026.