Name of dark etymology. The perennial plant perennial is used for the decoration of rock gardens, has a prostrate woody stem and flowers reminiscent of those of the Iberis.
Aethionema 'Warley Rose': a compact bush of small bright pink flowers (1).
Aethionema iberideum is characterized by silver-colored leaves and white flowers tending to lilac (2).
Cultivated species of Aethionema:
to the genus Aethionema, they mainly belong to widespread species in the Eastern Mediterranean regions. In Italy, we find Aethionema saxatile in rocky and calcareous places, where it blooms from February to July and A. thomasianum which is an endemic plant of the Val di Cogne alone, cultivated in the Paradisia alpine garden, risen in 1955 in Valnontey at an altitude of 1700 to the Gran Paradiso National Park. A. armenum is still to be ascribed to this genus, a plant that does not exceed 15 cm in height and blooms from June to July; A. coridifolium, slightly larger than the previous one, with gray leaves with bluish reflections and pink flowers; the Warley Rose 'cultivar forms a beautiful compact bush characterized by the bright pink color of small and numerous flowers; Aethionema grandiflorum reaches the maximum size, up to 30 cm, its flowers also vary in all shades of pink and are larger than normal; its posture is particularly erect and the flowering is prolonged throughout the summer; A. iberideum has white flowers tending to lilac, it blooms in late spring and has leaves that are more silvery, the poorer the soil on which the plant grows; A. pulchellum has gray leaves, pink flowers, summer bloom and is quite similar to A. coridifolium but smaller.
Cultivation:
to grow and flourish, the Aethionema it only needs a full sun exposure and a poor, calcareous, and stony soil that allows good drainage. It is multiplied by cuttings by rooting in a cold bed in July, then each individual seedling is placed in a pot and allowed to grow by transplanting it in residence in September or the following spring. Except for the Warley Rose 'cultivar, multiplication by seed is also possible. It is sown in September and flowering plants are obtained in the following summer.
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