Annual Candytuft Iberis umbellata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Annual Candytuft:
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-BEER-is um-bell-AY-tah
- Description
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Candytuft is a member of the mustard family that requires well-drained soil but tolerates a wide range of soil types including poor soils and very alkaline soil. Allow to dry out between waterings as it may decline with excessive rain. It does not tolerate shade. It can become a bit untidy looking once flowering is over so planting some other later season flowers in the same area is a good idea.
Sow seeds in spring after the last frost for summer flowering or in the fall for next year's crop. You can bag the seed heads to collect seed pods as they dry out, Break open the pods and remove seeds ensuring they are clean and dry before storage. It will also self-seed in some areas.
It is a cottage garden favorite, works well in small spaces, planted along walkways or also works on sunny slopes or as a container plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iberis
- Species:
- umbellata
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Mediterranean
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers pollinated by bees, and lepidoptera (moths & butterflies).
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Crown
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Showy flat-topped clusters with a wide range of colors including deep purple, cream, deep pink, and rose appear in spring.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Poor Soil
