Fragrant Persian Stonecress (Aethionema)

Aethionema schistosum is a low Turkish subshrub with narrow blue-green evergreen leaves and clusters of pink to rosy-lilac flowers. Its compact scale and tolerance of sunny, freely drained sites suit rock gardens, gravel beds, and the front of a sunny border. ## Seasonal Interest Flowers are described as spring-blooming in Salt Lake City GardenWise and as early-summer blooming by Stonecrop Gardens, so timing varies by region and source. The small evergreen leaves can continue to provide color outside the flowering period. Kew accepts the species name and records its native range in Türkiye’s Taurus and Anti-Taurus mountains. ## Siting and Soil Give it full sun and sharp drainage; the [Salt Lake City GardenWise profile](https://slcgardenwise.com/eplant.php?letter=a&plantnum=24623&return=s_p44) describes it as suited to dry, well-drained soil and rock gardens, while the [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/596/aethionema-schistosum-fragrant-persian-stonecrress/details) confirms the species and family. A [Stonecrop Gardens catalogue](https://www.stonecrop.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FINAL-2025-2026-Seminum-Mar-18-2026.pdf) describes the species as a small Turkish stonecress with blue-green foliage and rosy-lilac flowers in early summer. Avoid sites that remain wet. ## Maintenance Keep drainage open and trim away dead material when needed.