View source for Aethionema

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Brassicaceae
|genus=Aethionema
|common_name=Stone cress
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=shrub
|origin=Mediterranean, Asia Minor
|lifespan=perennial, annual
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|water=moderate, dry
|features=flowers
|flower_season=late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|Temp Metric=°F
|sunset_zones=1-9, 14-21, 32-45
|image=Aethionema grandiflora0.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=''Aethionema grandiflorum''
}}
'''''Aethionema''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s, within the family [[Brassicaceae]], subfamily [[Brassicoideae]]. The genus is collectively known as the stonecresses.

''Aethionema'' species  are grown as herbaceous [[perennial plant|perennial]]s by [[gardener]]s.

{{Inc|
Aethionema (aitho, scorch, and nema, filament; probably referring to appearance of stamens). Cruciferae. Dwarf, shrubby herbs for the hardy herbaceous border, or rockery. Less common than Iberis.

The genus differs from Iberis in having all its petals equal, and from Lepidium in having its four stamens longer, winged and toothed. Fls. various shades of pink, purple, or red, in crowded terminal racemes. W. B. Hemsley, in Gn. 9, pp. 108, 109.

Aethionemas dislike moist or stiff soil or shady places; but in light, sandy loam, on dry and sunny slopes, they are compact and branchy, and when once fairly established will last for many successive years without replanting or renewal, while, under the opposite conditions, the plants grow feeble and lanky, and may die after a year or two. They keep fully as well as the candytufts in water, and can be cut with longer and straighter stems. Propagation is by seeds in spring or by cuttings in summer; annual and biennial kinds by seeds.

AE. didstrophis Bunge. 10 in. high: fls. pale,rosy lilac. Mts. of Armenia.-AE persicum, Hort.Stout, erect, shrubby, dwarf: fls. deep rose.—Best of dwarfs. Intro. 1892, by J. W. Manning.
}}