Iberis Sempervirens Evergreen Candytuft. Another great Flowering Evergreen

You can never have enough plants that look good ALL YEAR, even in the winter. I am a big believer in that it is completely possible and not too hard. Who wants a yard that look dead for months out of the year anyway???

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)

Figure 1Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens).

Candytuft is an excellent ground cover for the border of a perennial garden in full sun. Growing about 12 inches tall, it has small, dark green, evergreen leaves and produces a carpet of pure white flowers in spring (Figure 1). Candytuft prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It benefits from cutting back after flowering to maintain compactness.

MOBOT SAYS:

Common Name: candytuft
Zone: 3 to 8 
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Brassicaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Southern Europe
Height: 0.5 to 1 foot
Spread: 0.5 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: April - May   Bloom Data
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

General Culture:
Best grown in average, well-drained soils in full sun. Less floriferous if grown in part shade. Well-drained soil is the key to growing this plant well. Cut or sheer plants stems back by 1/3 after flowering to encourage new growth and to maintain compact habit. In cold winter climates, mulch plants with evergreen boughs in winter to help minimize potential damage from sun scorch and desiccation. Stems may root where they touch the ground creating new plants which can be left as is or transplanted to other areas.


Noteworthy Characteristics:
Evergreen candytuft (sempervirens in Latin meaning always green) is a low-growing, spreading, woody-based, herbaceous perennial (sometimes called a subshrub) which typically forms a foliage mound 6-12" tall and spreading to 18" wide. It is evergreen in warm winter climates, but semi-evergreen in cold winter climates where the foliage may suffer significant decline in harsh winters. Small, pure white, 4-petaled flowers in dense, flattened clusters (corymbs) appear in a profuse, early-to-late-spring bloom which often totally obscures the foliage. Flowers sometimes gradually age to light pink. Numerous, oblong, entire, dark green, leathery leaves (1-1.5" long).


Problems:
Wet, poorly-drained soils inevitably lead to crown rot which can devastate plantings. Susceptible to club root which results in stunted growth. Desiccation and sun scorch may damage the evergreen foliage in cold winter climates.


Uses:
Excellent edging plant (many of the cultivars of this species are more compact and may make even better edgers) for borders, paths or walkways. Rock gardens or sprawl over a wall. Interesting ground cover for small, sunny areas.

	High resolution image available.
High resolution image available.