BITTER CANDYTUFT SEEDS

Iberis amara

This fragrant annual is too seldom grown in American gardens, though it is sometimes sold as Rocket Candytuft. Despite being easy and beautiful and scented, this species is actually more often grown for medicinal purposes rather than ornamental. Tincture of the flowering tops produces a very bitter tonic that is employed in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders ranging from dyspepsia to colon cancer. It is the active ingredient in the popular Iberogast. Unfortunately this preparation also contains Celandine, which is hepatotoxic and not an herb that we would ever recommend for internal use. Gardeners and herbalists that appreciate the effects of this commercial product may want to consider making their own tincture of Iberis amara. These seeds are imported from Germany and will likely produce the very same plants used by Bayer.

Sow these seeds outdoors in spring once soils have warmed to around 60°F. Best in full sun, although the plants will tolerate some shade. Thin seedlings to at least 8" apart. In the Northeast these plants begin to bloom in late July and continue through September, sometimes up until the first frost depending on the weather. Plants in bloom grow to just over 1'. Harvest flowering tops before seeds form. Both the freshly dried and fully dried plants may be used for tincture.

The seeds of Iberis amara contain powerful cardiac glycosides that can have profound and potentially deleterious effects on the heart. Under no circumstances do we recommend preparations of this species that involve the ripe seeds!

This species prefers calcareous soils and will grow and even self-sow most reliably in Rocky Mountain and Midwestern gardens. Growers in the Northeast that want to grow these plants en masse may want to consider amending soils with dolomite lime before sowing.

Packet contains around 500 seeds.