Quick Guide: spring, hardy, sun, height: 15cm/6in, width: 37cm/15in

Aethionemas are evergreen perennials which will respond to a position in the sun with a long-lived display of beautiful pink or white flowers, the thick mat of leaves Persisting through the winter.

GROWING Plant in spring in well-drained soil that is not too rich. Dead-head regularly and there may be a second flush of flowers.

PROPAGATION Plants may self-seed, but can be raised from non-flowering softwood cuttings taken in summer. Insert in a peat/sand mixture in a cold frame until rooted. Pot up individually, over winter in the frame and plant out the following spring.

SPECIES A. x 'Warley Rose', the most popular hybrid, with small grey-green pointed leaves, rose-pink flowers; A. grandiflorum, height and spread 45cm/l8in, deep pink flower heads 7.5 cm/ 3in long; A. pulchellum, 20cm/ 8in high, numerous rich pink flowers; A. iberideum, blue-green leaves, profuse white flowers.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Generally trouble-free.