Arenaria

Generally unassuming in character, there are around 160 species of these charming plants, both annual and perennial in character. They are often prostrate or make small mounds of foliage, the leaves are sometimes tiny. The flowers of many species are white, but some have purple or pink blooms. They come from the northern hemisphere including the Arctic and on mountains where they may be munched by marmots. The flowers come in late spring or during summer. In some cases the plants smother themselves with bloom, in others they occur singly. Most of these species like sunny positions and are grown in raised beds and rock gardens, and in or on walls. Arenaria balearica likes a cool and shady position though.