Iberis
(from Iberia, the former name of Spain). Candytuft. ORD. Cruciferoe. A genus comprising twenty species of annual or biennial herbs or sub-shrubs, from South Europe and Western Asia. Flowers white or purple, racemose or corymbose; petals four, two outer ones largest. Leaves alternate, linear or obovate, entire or pinnatifid. Stems round, usually smooth. All the species are of easy culture in ordinary garden soil, if the position is well exposed to sun and air. The annuals and biennials are increased by seeds. For summer flowering, sow in March or April, and in August or September for a spring display. A light sandy soil is most suitable for sowing the seeds in. The sub-shrubby sorts are handsome, compact-growing plants, admirably adapted for the fronts of shrubberies and herbaceous borders. These species may be increased by seeds, sown in spring; but the most usual method is by cuttings, or by divisions, the latter of which are easily effected. I. amara (bitter). Common Candytuft. fl. white, corymbose, finally racemose. June. l. lanceolate, acute, somewhat toothed. h. 6in. to 12in. Western Europe (Britain). Annual.
I. a. hesperidifolia (hesperis-leaved). An improved form of the type; larger, and very pretty. h. 1ft.
I. Bernardiana (Bernard's). fl. pink, corymbose. Summer. l. spathulate, lobed, deep glossy green, forming dense compact rosettes. h. 6in. Pyrenees. Annual. SYN. I. Bubanii.
I. Bubanii (Buban's). A synonym of I. Bernardiana.
I. ciliata (ciliate). fl. white. June and July. l. linear, entire, ciliated at the base. h. 9in. South-western Europe, 1802. Plant herbaceous, rather smooth. Biennial. (B. M. 1030.) I. c. taurica (Taurian). fl. white, corymbose. May to July. l. ciliated, somewhat fleshy; lower ones spathulate, somewhat bidentate at the apex; upper ones linear. h. 6in. to 9in. Tauria, 1802. Annual or biennial. I. coronaria (crown-flowering).* Rocket Candytuft. fl. pure white, in numerous long, dense heads or spikes at the tops of the stems. July. l. lanceolate, coriaceous, entire. h. 1ft. 1836. Native country uncertain. Annual. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 359.) The variety known as the "Giant Snowflake" is a very fine form.
I. correaefolia (Correa-leaved).* fl. white, large, disposed in compact flat heads; but, as the stems become elongated, and the succession of buds open, a long round cluster is formed by the old flowers remaining, such heads or spikes being 3in. long. May and June. l. spathulate, obtuse, entire, smooth, about 1 1/2in. long. Branches woody, slender, numerous, procumbent. h. 1ft. This garden hybrid is a valuable hardy evergreen shrub, thriving in almost any soil or situation; it has a neat and effective appearance at the angles of walks, or used as an edging. The plant may be easily increased, either by layers or by cuttings.
I. gibraltarica (Gibraltar).* fl. white, usually suffused with pink or red, large, in corymbose heads. Early spring. l. wedge-shaped, blunt, somewhat toothed at the top, rather ciliated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Gibraltar, 1732. A very showy, handsome, but somewhat straggling, half-hardy evergreen species, requiring a well-drained light soil. (B. M. 124.) I. g. hybrida (hybrid). fl. creamy-white, gradually deepening to a pleasing rosy-purple colour. A very desirable variety, being much more compact in habit than the type, and equally as floriferous.
I. jucunda (pleasant). A synonym of Aethionema coridifolium. I. nana (dwarf). fl. purple. June and July. l. round-spathulate, entire, rather fleshy. h. 3in. South France and Italy, 1822. Plant herbaceous, smooth. Annual or biennial. (B. M. 2788.) I. odorata (sweet-scented). fl. white, sweet-scented, racemose. Summer. l. linear, toothed, ciliated at the base, dilated at the top. h. 6in. to 12in. Greece, 1806. Annual. (S. B. F. G. 50.) I. Pruiti (Pruit's). fl. pure white, in compact heads or corymbs. May or June. l. obovate-spathulate, entire, or somewhat toothed. Stems suffruticose at the base, smooth. h. 6in. Sicily. Very like I. Tenoreana, but having smooth, not ciliated, leaves, and pure white flowers. Perennial. I. saxatilis (rock).* fl. white, corymbose. Spring and summer. l. linear, quite entire, somewhat fleshy, acute, ciliated. Stems ascendent. h. 3in. to 6in. South Europe, &c., 1739. A very common and pretty dwarf evergreen shrub. I. semperflorens (ever-flowering).* fl. pure white, large, sweet-scented, corymbose. Autumn to spring. l. cuneated or spathulate, rather fleshy, blunt, quite entire, smooth. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Italy, &c., 1679. A handsome but somewhat delicate evergreen perennial.
I. sempervirens (evergreen).* Evergreen Candytuft. fl. pure white, in long racemes. Spring and summer. l. oblong, blunt, narrowed at the base, smooth. h. 9in.to 12in. South Europe, 1731. This is the common branching evergreen shrubby species of Candytuft. It is adapted for nearly every style of gardening, and is one of the best perennials grown. There are several varieties, including I. s. superba, which has a bushy habit, and produces pure white flowers in dense heads.
I. s. Garrexiana (Garrexian).* fl. white, corymbose. May. l. oblong, narrowed at the base, blunt, quite entire, smooth. h. 6in. to 9in. South Europe, 1820. A variety having smaller flowers, and the racemes very much elongated in the course of flowering. Hardy evergreen. (A. F. P. iii. 40, 54.) I. Tenoreana (Tenore's).* fl. purplish or whitish, umbellate. May. l. somewhat fleshy, crenated; lower ones obovate, narrowed at the base, and ciliated; upper ones oblong-linear. Stems ascendent, sub-shrubby at the base. h. 6in. South-west Europe, 1822. A very desirable perennial species. (B. M. 2783.) I. umbellata (umbelled).* Common Candyuft. fl. usually purple, but very variable, in terminal umbels. Spring and summer. l. lanceolate, acuminated; lower ones serrated; upper ones quite entire. h. 6in. to 12in. South Europe, 1596. A common and well-known pretty hardy annual. (B. M. 106.) The following are the most desirable varieties (the descriptions refer to the flowers): atropurpurea, dark crimson; carnea, blush or pale flesh-coloured; nana purpurea, deep purple, dwarf; purpurea lilacina, lilac-purple, dwarf. I. violacea (violet). fl. purple; corymb somewhat umbellate. June and July. l. stalked, spathulate, blunt-toothed and entire, ciliate. h. 3in. 1782. Annual.