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Iberis amara

Phonetic Spelling
eye-BEER-is a-MAH-rah
Description

Rocket Candytuft is a small, ornamental, occasionally wild, flowering annual in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. It is native to western and southern Europe, from Britain to North Africa and is typically found in dry hillsides, yards, and disturbed areas in the wild. It is a fast-growing, ornamental plant with sweetly scented flowers that bloom mid- to late-summer. The inflorescence is a corymb, bearing 10 to 30 flowers, each about 0.4 inches across. There are four petals, which in the wild are white or pale violet and, under cultivation, are pink, violet or fuchsia The species epithet amara is from the Latin word amarus and refers to the bitter flavor of the mustard produced from the plant's seeds. 

Plant in moist, well-drained garden soil in full sun. It prefers soil that is high in calcium, but tolerates mildly acidic or poor nutrient soils. It also tolerates partial shade, but will produce fewer flowers. Although small, you should not grow the plants too close together.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#lilac#white flowers#pink flowers#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#spring interest#alkaline soils tolerant#poor soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#annual#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#lilac#white flowers#pink flowers#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#spring interest#alkaline soils tolerant#poor soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#annual#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Iberis
    Species:
    amara
    Family:
    Brassicaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Sometimes used as a mustard. Adding water to ground seeds produces a pungent mustard; adding vinegar or salt produces a milder, bitter, mustard.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western and southern Europe, including Britain, to North Africa
    Distribution:
    Introduced to Central and Eastern Europe, India, New England and Middle Atlantic United States.
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers are pollinated by bees.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Samara
    Fruit Description:
    Ovate, notched fruit. Narrowly winged seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Irregular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Corolla is irregular, white to light violet. Four petals of which the outermost two are long (6 mm (0.24 inch) and the innermost two short (3 mm (0.12 inch)). The flowers are fragrant and the inflorescence is initially dense, becoming more sparse in fruiting stage. Flowers in July-August.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Obovate
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate leaves with the lowest soon withering, the middle and upper leaves stalkless, narrowly obovate, and sparse-toothed at tip (sometimes with short margins). The margin is sparsely hairy, 3-veined. petiolate or (distal) sessile; the blade spatulate or oblanceolate to oblong, margins pinnatifid or dentate, or (distalmost) entire or dentate
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Erect, branched distally.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Poor Soil
    Rabbits