IBERIS, SCIATICA CRASSA, or Candy-tuft; a genus of the siliculosus order, belonging to the tetradymania class of plants.
Species. 1. The umbellata, or common candy-tuft, hath herbaceous, short, round, and very branchy stalks of tufty growth, from about six to eight or ten inches high; small spear-shaped leaves, the lower ones serrated, the upper entire; and all the stalks and branches terminated by umbellate clusters of flowers of different colours in the varieties. 2. The amara, or bitter candy-tuft, hath stalks branching like the former, which rise from eight to ten or twelve inches high; small,
spear-shaped, and slightly indented leaves; and all the branches terminated by racemose bunches of white flowers in June and July. 3. The sempervirens, commonly called tree candy-tuft, hath low undershrubby stalks very branchy and bushy, rising to the height of 10 or 12 inches, with white flowers in umbels at the ends of the branches, appearing great part of the summer. 4. The sempiflorens, or ever-flowering shrubby iberis, hath low undershrubby stalks very branchy, growing to the height of 18 inches, with white flowers in umbels at the ends of the branches, appearing at all times of the year.
Culture. The two first kinds, being hardy annuals, may be sowed in any common soil in the month of March, or from that time till midsummer, and will thus afford a succession of flowers from June to September, which are succeeded by great plenty of seeds. The other two are somewhat tender; and therefore must be planted in pots, in order to be sheltered from the winter frosts. They are easily propagated by slips or cuttings.