By Brenda Hyde

Candytuft, Iberis Sempervirens, is a low growing evergreen
shrub that we often see in rock gardens. It can also be grown
in borders, or containers with it's bright cheery blossoms in
white, rose, purple, and shade of light purple. Candytuft is an
old fashioned perennial that is drought tolerant, and it works
wonderfully in stone wall crevices, as an edging, or a ground
cover. There are two types of candytuft that are commonly
available---I. sempervirens is known as evergreen candytuft
and is a hardy perennial. Some of the varieties available are
'Alexander's White', 'Little Gem' (a dwarf), 'October Glory',
'Purity', 'Snowflake' and 'Summer Snow'.
Candytuft loves full sun, though it will adapt to partial shade. An
average soil is fine, as long as it's well drained. Wet feet will
rot the plants or cause disease. I consider it a low maintenance
plant in the sense that you don't really have to fuss much with it.
Deadheading and cutting it back after blooming will keep it
looking nice and stop it from reseeding in unwanted places.
Once established candytuft will spread about 2 foot across. It's
hardy even in Zone 3, and can be grown from seed!
You can start candytuft inside about 8 weeks before the last
frost, or it can direct seeded when the soil warms. If you start
it indoors don't transplant outside until after the last frost. Sow
the seeds and cover very lightly with no more than an 1/8 inch
of fine soil. It can take up to 20 days or so to germinate, so be
patient. Thin the plants to 6 to 8 inches apart and give them
regular waterings.
Candytuft will form a mound of foliage about 10 inches tall. It's
considered an evergreen subshrub and looks nice year round
as long as it's kept trimmed. In cold climates such as Zone 3
and 4, it's semi-evergreen. It can bloom for up to ten weeks,
and if deadheaded may give you another bloom! The plants
can be divided and then replanted in the fall if necessary. They
can also be be cut back to 3-4 inches from the soil level in late
summer to keep them from getting woody. If you want to multiply
your plants you can take cuttings in the mid-summer and root
them. Dip in rooting hormone and pot up in some good sterile
soil, then later transplant. You can also give candytuft a layer
of mulch before winter to help prevent problems during the
freeze/thaw weather cycle.
The candytuft we treat as an annual is I. umbellata, and it is
also known as globe candytuft. Some of the varieties you'll see
are 'Dwarf Fairy', 'Candycane Mix', and 'Apple Blossom'. Start
the seeds in the same way as mentioned for the perennial variety.
Globe candytuft attracts bees and butterflies and some varities
can reach over a foot tall. The flowers are more like pincushion
flowers, Scabiosa. They are 2 inches across and in pretty shades
of red, purple, pink and white. The candycane mix blooms just
10-12 weeks from sowing. The annual candytuft does best in the
cooler weather, though they will bloom all summer if deadheaded
and watered on a regular basis. Try combining the globe candytuft
with Sweet Alyssum and other bedding plants like petunias.
Evergreen candytuft is a spring bloomer and looks stunning with
phlox, rock cress or planted where it will mix in with the spring
bulbs and other early flowers. Whether you grow the annual or
the perennial candytuft you will love it's bright appearance in
your landscape!
About The Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her
husband and three kids. She is also editor of
StandBesideHer.com and has a family friendly blog,
On the Front Porch.