Description

Aethionema – Eunomia – Stone cress –

This genus of about 40 species of evergreen perennials or sub shrubs and low shrubs and annuals are native to the Mediterranean region into western Asia.  It bears dense to loose terminal spikes or clusters of 4 petal cross-shaped pink to red or white sometimes-fragrant flowers in spring and summer. They’re great in rock gardens.

They thrive in a climate where the winters are moist and the summers are dry in gritty free draining soil exposed to full sun in alkaline or poor acidic soils.

Prone to aphids and spider mites.

Aethionema oppositifolium – Eunomia oppositifolia – This native to the Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and the Caucasus forms a mat or cushion evergreen or semi evergreen that grows 2” tall and about 6” wide.  It bears opposite egg shaped blue gray leaves ½” long.  In late spring it bears small racemes of lavender-pink ¼-3/8” wide.

Zones 6-8