clavennae—Tufts of hoary, fine-cut leaves less than a foot high, tight round white flower heads three-fourths of an inch across in May and June.
tomentosa—Best-known little species, quickly makes a thick mat of semi-evergreen gray-green leaves six inches tall. It has sunny yellow flowers from June to midsummer. The variety aurea has more golden flowers and blooms earlier; nana is a true midget and makes a thick carpet studded with many white flowers. Five-inch ‘Moonlight’ has flowers of sulfur yellow, and greener foliage.
umbellata—Four-inch mounds of fuzzy, silvery, ferny leaves. It has cream-white flowers in June and is evergreen in temperate areas.
CARE. Any soil, even sandy or poor. Dryish to moist. Sun or very light shade. Easy to grow.
PROPAGATION. Division in spring or fall, seeds (flowers the second year).
SPECIAL USES. Rock plantings, dry-wall planting, edging, ground cover, pavements.
Aethionema Cruciferae Stone-Cress, Persian Candytuft
This is a heathery little shrub-like perennial with slim leaves and steely-blue needles, cheerful clusters of flowers at the stem tips in May and June. It is often compared to a minuscule daphne.
armenum—Neat tufts of short, sharp leaves and petite pink flowers in June. It is never over four inches high.
iberideum—Low, crowded, and cushiony-minute with gray-green leaves and large white flowers in short clusters. This one is earlier than other varieties, blooming even in April if the weather is favorable. (Needs gritty soil with some lime.)