Evergreen Candytuft Iberis sempervirens

Other Common Name(s):

Candytuft

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.

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.

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.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Ground Cover

Herbaceous Perennial

Perennial

Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Habit/Form:

Mounding

Spreading

Growth Rate:

Medium

Maintenance:

Medium

Texture:

Fine

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, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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".

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.

Leaves:
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.

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.

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