Persian stonecress is an evergreen rounded subshrub native to eastern Turkey, the southern Caucasus, and northern Iran where it grows on limestone slopes . It is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes broccoli, cabbage, and asylum. Plants grow up to 18″ tall and have erect, sometimes spreading and branched stems bearing glaucous gray green leaves that are needle-shaped and up to 1 1/2″ long. In early summer up to 15 pink to lilac crucifom flowers 1/4″ wide appear in loose terminal racemes that become 3″ long as the flowers fade. Plants do well in borders and rock gardens but must have very well-drained soil. They tend to be short lived but often self-seed. The genus name, Aethionema, comes from the ancient Greek words αἴθειν meaning to light up or kindle and νῆμα meaning thread or yarn. The specific epithet, grandiflorum, comes from the Latin words grandis meaning large, and flos meaning flower.
Type: Evergreen subshrub
Bloom: Pink to lilac cruciform flowers in loose terminal racemes from late spring to early summer
Size: 18″ H x 18″ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Care: Shear after flowering to encourage regrowth of fresh foliage.
Pests and Diseases: Aphids
Propagation: Seed, softwood cuttings in late spring to early summer
Companion Plants: California poppy, prostrate veronica, hens and chickens
Karen Meyers