Candytuft

February 20, 2017 Chelsea Quimby

Botanical Name: Iberis sempervirens ‘Purity’

Height: 4-6″
Width: 16″
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
Performance: Perennial
Bloom: White (March-April)

 

Iberis sempervirens is a harbinger of spring. It signals the coming of warm days. Billowing white clouds of flowers envelop the glossy evergreen foliage. The genus name Iberis is derived from its Iberian Peninsula origin, while the species sempervirens name describes the plants evergreen foliage. Candytuft prefers a well drained or rocky type soil and does not like a heavy clay soil.

 

It can be used as a border or in rock gardens to spill over rocks, due to its low growing, spreading habit. Shearing is required after blooming to maintain a tidy appearance. If branches are left to touch the ground, it will spread as a groundcover. A sunny location is preferred, but afternoon shade is appreciated in the north Texas summer heat. 

 

A beautiful forerunner of spring!