Evergreen Candytuft Iberis sempervirens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-BEER-is sem-per-VY-renz
- Description
-
Good for accent areas borders, walkways, and rock gardens, It works well in containers or over a rock wall. Cut candytuft back severely at least every other year to ensure that it does not become tall and leggy; candytuft is actually a woody subshrub, but is often treated as a herbaceous perennial; this plant is occasionally damaged by deer. Candytuft is drought tolerant, moderately salt-tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant.
It prefers sun to light shade tolerates a range of soil types provided there is good drainage. pH adaptable, easily transplanted, and relatively pest-free.
Quick ID Hints:
- Evergreen groundcover has small, flat, linear leaves
- Covered with crowded white-flowered racemes in Spring
- Flowers scissors-shaped; 4 free, clawed petals
- Leaf scars on older twigs raised, prominent
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Caterpillars, slugs and snails can be a problem. Downey mildew, powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots, and rust occasionally occur. Wet soils lead to crown rot. Cold winters can cause leaves to get sun scorch.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alexander White'
- 'Snow Cone'
- 'Snowflake'
- 'Tahoe Improved'
- 'Alexander White'
- 'Alexander White', 'Snow Cone', 'Snowflake', 'Tahoe Improved'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alexander White'
- 'Snow Cone'
- 'Snowflake'
- 'Tahoe Improved'
- 'Alexander White'
- 'Alexander White', 'Snow Cone', 'Snowflake', 'Tahoe Improved'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iberis
- Species:
- sempervirens
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an orbicular-elliptic silicle, green maturing to brown, and 1/5".
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Numerous small, white flowers of up to 2 in. clusters in March-May. Petals are scissor shaped or as a narrow "X" they are oblong-spatulate shape, clawed, with the outer 2 petals longer than the inner 2. Petals are 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Inflorescence a flat-topped, congested raceme, terminal, around 4-5 cm. Flowers can turn light pink as they get older.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This leaf is 1/2"- 2" x 1/10"- 1/5", alternate, simple, linear-oblong, obtuse, shiny, leathery, entire, flat, and dark green.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems can root where they touch the ground. Older stems have leaf scars that are raised and prominent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Salt
