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Annual Candytuft Iberis umbellata

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Annual Candytuft:

Phonetic Spelling
eye-BEER-is um-bell-AY-tah
Description

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:
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#small spaces#purple flowers#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#slopes#cottage garden#mounding#well-drained soil#border planting#pollinator plant#flowers late summer#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#container plant#dense growth#moth friendly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#small spaces#purple flowers#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#slopes#cottage garden#mounding#well-drained soil#border planting#pollinator plant#flowers late summer#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#container plant#dense growth#moth friendly#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Mounding
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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