Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a woody sub-shrub/perennial with clusters of white flowers in spring

We have had number of candytuft growing on south-facing rockeries and borders for decades.

• Grow these plants in gravelly or well-drained soil in full sun.   We like to plant them between boulders on rock slopes.
• The profusion of blooms occurs in May, with a few returning for some June flowers, after deadheading.
• We deadhead the flower/seedheads.    Its easy to pinch off the tops.    We have also used a string trimmer to clean up the plants.
• A few images from the garden are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

candytuft

We started with one plant, then dispersed seedheads on slopes to start new plants in the following spring.   On occasion we transplant new volunteers in early spring.

• If kept appropriately pruned, candytuft keeps a tidy mounded shape.   If we prune the growth back after flowering the plant restores nicely for an attractive evergreen-like sub-shrub in the garden.
• Candytuft is mildly toxic to humans so wear gloves or wash your hands after working with them.
• If we grow candytuft in open, sunny spots we rarely see any insect or fungus problems.
• For winter protection, we stuff some mulching material (leaf mold, duff, or bark mulch near the base of the plant.    If the plant is in a place where snowmelt can drain down and refreeze, the plant may suffer some winterkill, but it almost always comes back, but later in the season.
• We have only grown white candytuft (Purity), but there are cultivars which have different colors, size, and flowering times.