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.
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.