Pollinator plant

wild candytuft

Iberis amara

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Common names

18 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (13)
Dutch
French
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • iberka hořká[4]
Finnish
  • katkerasaippo[4]
German
Japanese
  • ナズナザクラ[4]
Lithuanian
  • Karčioji rudgrūdėlė[4]
Norwegian
  • prydsløyfe[4]
Polish
  • ubiorek gorzki[4]
Russian
  • Иберийка горькая[4]
Slovak
  • iberka horká[4]
Swedish
  • blomsteriberis[4]
Sources & name notes (6)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Iberis amara — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Annual Candytuft — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Iberis amara.
  • Bitter Candytuft — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Iberis amara.
  • Candytuft — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Iberis amara.
  • Rocket Candytuft — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Iberis amara.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Iberis amara ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Annual candytuft (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146704; taxon 3P79B.
  • Bittere Schleifenblume (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146705; taxon 3P79B.
[3] Iberis amara — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bittere Schleifenblume — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Wild Candytuft — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Ibéris amer — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Bittere scheefbloem — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
[4] Iberis amara — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bittere Schleifenblume — results[12].names[8]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Wild Candytuft — results[12].names[1]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Ibéris amer — results[12].names[3]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Bittere scheefbloem — results[12].names[11]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • 屈曲花 — results[12].names[2]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • prydsløyfe — results[12].names[4]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • katkerasaippo — results[12].names[5]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • iberka hořká — results[12].names[6]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Иберийка горькая — results[12].names[7]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • Karčioji rudgrūdėlė — results[12].names[9]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • ナズナザクラ — results[12].names[10]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • blomsteriberis — results[12].names[12]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • ubiorek gorzki — results[12].names[13]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
  • iberka horká — results[12].names[14]; taxon id 164027; Iberis amara.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild candytuft — Page 3, column 1, row top 337 pt; common-name cell after Iberis amara.; Iberis amara.
[6] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild candytuft — Page 4, column 1, row top 337 pt; common-name cell after Iberis amara.; Iberis amara.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Iberis amara is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Brassicaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Erect; Mounding

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Western and southern Europe, including Britain, to North Africa

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Iberis amara in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Annual candytuft (Iberis amara) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Iberis amara — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 425705; ID 3P79B; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 425705; ID 3P79B; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Iberis amara — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Iberis amara (top 337 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Iberis amara (top 337 pt)

    Source checked on .