Badly hardy in this country
This plant, which comes from warmer climes, is unfortunately not hardy in our latitudes. Alyssum, as the stone herb is also called, is perennial in its homeland, but is only cultivated as an annual in this country. Even low temperatures below 0 ° C mean a certain end. The fine roots that are close to the surface will freeze to death.
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Can you overwinter the stone herb indoors?
If you don't have a garden, you might want to plant your stone herb in a pot on the balcony or in the window box. Even there the stone herb does not survive the winter. But it can be overwintered inside. To do this, cut the plant down by 2/3 in autumn and place the pot in a frost-free, but cool, and light spot in the apartment.
Cut, tear up and compost in autumn
Here's how to do the stone herb when autumn approaches:
- prune close to the ground between late September and October
- alternatively pull out of the earth
- Dispose of plant parts
Survival strategy: self-sowing
Have you planted the stone herb and year after year it sprouts in spring? It seems to be hardy, doesn't it? If you are not mistaken ... The stone herb knows how to reproduce skillfully and thus to survive across generations.
Its seeds ripen from September / October - provided you haven't cut off the old flowers. The seeds fall off when ripe and overwinter in the ground. In the spring they are stimulated to germinate. Self-sowing is the magic word. Schwupps a new stone herb plant emerges without you noticing.
Tips
Before you dispose of the stone herb on the compost in autumn, it is advisable to shake the plant a little in the desired location for the coming season. This will cause the seeds to fall out. With luck, they will germinate in spring.
