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.
- 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
